News / Logo competition could be launched to shame people into cleaning up dog mess
A COMPETITION to create a logo capable of shaming dog walkers into picking up after their pets could be launched among bairns later this year.
Shetland Islands Council’s environmental health team has applied for £1,000 from Lerwick Community Council’s share of Viking community benefit funding for the project.
Sound and Bells Brae primary pupils would be invited to produce a logo which would “raise the profile around dog fouling” in Lerwick if the grant is approved.
Dog mess has been a “historic problem across Lerwick, especially in the winter months”, antisocial behaviour co-ordinator Billy Mycock said.
The money would be used to create “better quality, longer lasting signage” to be displayed around areas such as the Clickimin.
“Clickimin Loch and surrounding paths are some of the most heavily fouled at the moment and would be the target of our campaign,” he said.
If the grant is approved environmental health plan to have everything in place by December, targeting the “most problematic time of the year” in January 2026.
“We will encourage community council, residents and other dog walkers to get involved and look at other resources that might help reduce this, like sturdier dog bag dispensers,” Mycock added.
He said the Clickimin Loch area was “heavily used by pedestrians, mothers walking withprams, secondary school pupils, dog walkers and many other people.”
“Cleaning up the grassy verges in this area will make it a more pleasant area to walk in,” he said.
“The council has already provided a lot of bins that are emptied daily in the area for both litter and dog fouling.
“However more weather resistant signage rather than cheaper temporary signage would back up officer time invested in patrolling and engaging with users of the area while also empowering both young people and other users to reinforce positive behaviour ofpicking up and put dog fouling in the bin.
“The community element to the signage and getting the young folk involved with theresponse will really help encourage the positive response of picking up and keeping the area clean.”
Lerwick Community Council will consider the application at its meeting on Monday 3 March.
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