Plea to owners after volunteers pick up 14.1kg of dog waste on Staxigoe walking route
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A voluntary effort resulted in more than 14 kilograms of dog mess being picked up from a popular walking route in the Staxigoe area.
And now a plea has gone out for owners to ensure they take responsibility for cleaning up after their pets.
Local residents Pam Jack and Wendy Sutherland carried out the task on January 26 after concerns over the extent of dog-fouling locally.
They covered a stretch from the end of Staxigoe's Elzy Road to a point beyond the local war memorial on the road leading to Noss, gathering the mess along the way and putting it in a fertiliser bag.
Their public-spirited actions were praised by Pat Ramsay, a member of Sinclair's Bay Community Council and a volunteer with Staxigoe, Papigoe and Noss Resilience Group.
“They filled 14.1 kilos,” Mrs Ramsay said. “The ladies gave up at that point because they weren’t physically going to be able to lift this bag full of dog waste back.”
She said there was a growing sense of frustration among residents who want the area to be pleasant for everyone.
“We’ve got a community Facebook page and we share all the positive things that are happening and good ideas,” Mrs Ramsay said. “But somebody had said ‘enough is enough, we are really fed up with the amount of dog waste’.
“It has become a topic of conversation. If you’re out walking, everybody is talking about it.”
“People do come from the town and park their cars and walk their dogs,
“It’s so frustrating. You just want to walk, you don’t want to see unsightly dog waste.
“There is no need for it when there are bins. Seeing lumps of dog waste at the side of the verge is just awful.”
She added: “A lot of people say there should be more poo bins. But I just think if you’re out for a walk with your dog, you know where the bins are. I know you can’t plan when your dog is going to do its business, but you’ve just got to think about it.
“Pam, one of the residents, bought 150 poo bags and she is in the process with her daughter of making poo-bag dispensers out of half a dozen two-litre juice bottles. You put a slit in them and we’ll fill them with cheap poo bags and then tie them on strategic places with cable ties.”
There are also plans to put posters up encouraging dog-walkers to be considerate.
“I have made contact with the Highland Council dog warden and she is very supportive of our plight,” Mrs Ramsay said.
“Highland Council are saying they understand the problem but there are obviously limitations to what they can do.
“I have lived in Papigoe/Staxigoe for many years and we’re trying to improve it – we’re trying to make it a place that’s pleasant for everybody, from the wee totties that are going out wandering to elderly folk and those that are dog-walking.
“We want to make it inclusive for everybody, but when you’re troubled with piles of waste on the verges it’s just not on.”
Mrs Ramsay said thoughtless owners were flouting the law and suggested that they may get the message if fines were imposed and subsequently publicised.
“In some ways, if somebody was caught and fined it would almost be like a result for us,” she said. “I don’t necessarily want that to happen, but I think it would make a difference – it would make an impression.
“I think people are being a wee bit more aware and mindful. There are folk that are keeping their eyes open.
"There is a real community spirit in Papigoe and Staxigoe and Noss. We want to make improvements and we want it to be the bonny area that it should be. We don't want this mess to happen. People should take responsibility.
"If we can do that as a community and take action as a community, that's what we want and we will make a difference."
After concerns about dog mess in Wick were raised last week at a meeting of the town's community council, a Highland Council spokesperson said: “People can report dog-fouling using the online ‘dog fouling’ form on the council’s website.
“The assistant community works officer is employed with the council’s Community Services and Environmental Health. The officer’s role includes duties of dog warden for the Caithness area, litter enforcement officer, fly-tipping investigation and enforcement and investigation of reports of abandoned vehicles.
“Due to the level four lockdown, all non-essential work has been placed on a temporary hold unless there is a serious public health concern relating to the enquiry. All complaints and enquiries will be recorded and actioned once the Highland area leaves the current level four restrictions.”
