Posted on: Friday 23 May 2025
Ten schools have signed up to the council's new dog poo prevention campaign.
Eight primary schools and two secondary schools have received a free pack to help them highlight and monitor incidents of dog fouling along routes where pupils walk or cycle to school.
As part of the campaign, they will be recording the amount of dog fouling they find, which will be passed onto the council's civil enforcement teams who will use it to plan targeted education and enforcement.
Recent surveys of parents and pupils in Torfaen have highlighted that dog fouling on paths and pavements puts families off walking to school.
One of the schools to sign up to the campaign is St. Alban’s RC High School, in Pontypool.
Joe Henry, the school’s Eco-Coordinator, said: “It’s Walk to School Week and many of our pupils walk to and from school, particularly through Pontypool Park, so it is important that their commute takes place in a clean, safe environment.
“Furthermore, our PE department regularly uses the park for practical lessons, and it creates disruptive, unpleasant situations for staff and pupils when people fail to pick up their dog’s mess.
“We fully support the Pick it Up campaign and hope that raising public awareness will make dog owners more conscious of the distress and inconvenience it can cause within the community.”
Head Boy Oliver Cook added: “When we’re walking to school or out with our friends, we constantly come across dog mess and it is unpleasant because it can get everywhere, on your shoes or your bike tyres. I find it stressful and inconvenient as I have to go home and clean it off, which can be time consuming, and the smell is very unpleasant.”
Ponthir Primary School has also received a free pack.
Year 5 pupil Jack said: “I play cricket there every week, and before we play, we spot dog poo everywhere. My dad has to pick it up so the field is safe for us to play in”
Toby, in Year 6, added: “I was playing football on the field in the village and my ball landed in dog poo, it really upset me, and it’s happening all the time. We can’t play without checking first.”
The pupils have displayed posters provided as part of the packs and are planning to hold a community event to raise awareness of the issue.
If you are a volunteer group, community group, sports club or school and want to join the Pick It Up campaign, email pickitup@torfaen.gov.uk for a free pack.
Failing to pick up after a dog that has fouled in a public place is a criminal offence and carries the risk of a £100 penalty.
Dog owners can put used dog poo bags in any litter bin in the borough.
Members of the public are asked to support the campaign by reporting dog fouling online or via the MyTorfaen app.
The Pick It Up campaign has been partly funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.