RK9
Our RK9 Campaign will help tackle dog fouling in the borough. We have more bins to dispose of dog waste than ever before. Bagged dog waste can be placed in any litter bin and was highlighted by campaigns such as :
- National Keep Britain Tidy
- ‘Any Bin will Do’
- ‘There’s no such thing as the Poop Fairy’
RK9 aims
The aims for the RK9 campaign are:
- to see knowledgeable and responsible dog ownership in Maidstone and people who care about their pets and their environment
- enhanced local pride in cleaner streets, parks, cemeteries, and other public places achieved by a true partnership approach, making communities cleaner, greener, and safer
- to see a significant reduction in fouling, strays, and animal-related complaints, a major increase in awareness, and the start of culture change on these issues
Data collection
We will collect data to find dog-fouling hot spots. Data will be collected by using:
- patrols
- signs
- leaflets drops
- bag 'n' flag events
- community talks
- educational school visits
Dog Watch
The Dog Watch campaign will allow us to increase the enforcement officer presence in problem areas.
To do this, we need you to tell us if you see dog fouling regularly in your area. We will use the information you provide to help catch the irresponsible dog owners.
We started this campaign alongside the Dog Control Orders introduced in April 2014. The orders make it an offence for a dog owner not to pick up after their dogs anywhere in the borough. It also excludes dogs from any enclosed children’s play area with a "no dogs" sign.
The orders are designed to promote responsible dog ownership. Acting irresponsibly will lead to a £75 fixed penalty notice.
Bag 'n' Flag
The Bag 'n' Flag part of the RK9 campaign is aimed at reducing the amount of dog mess left in parks and in different areas of the borough.
Piles of dog mess, which are not picked up, are given little flags and signs. Officers will then return to the area to see if a difference has been made.
Tell us about fouling
We know there are more responsible dog owners than irresponsible ones. If you see it, report it, and pass on details of possible offenders, which will be dealt with in confidence.
If you would like more information about this campaign or to provide details of fouling offenders, please call 01622 602 202.