Type=image;ImageID=15977;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Tackling dog fouling;TitleClass=strong;
Type=image;ImageID=15978;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=New dog fouling signs;TitleClass=strong;
Type=image;ImageID=15979;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Bruce, Elizabeth Duff-Cole and Georgia Duff-Cole;TitleClass=strong;
Elizabeth Duff-Cole, school pupil at St Michael's Catholic Primary Academy, had taken part in a poster competition ran by City of Wolverhampton Council to tackle selfish dog owners who don't clean up after their pets.
Elizabeth's eye catching design and strong, witty message has been transferred to new dog fouling signage to encourage more dog owners to clean up their dog's poo and dispose it correctly.
The new signs will support the City Council's 'Cleaner, Greener, Better' campaign and will be showcased in hot spot areas in the city's parks where there is a known issue with dog mess.
Elizabeth was chosen as the winner of the design competition by the Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton.
Elizabeth, aged 10, said: "I'm so pleased to have won the competition. I love drawing and I couldn't believe it when my name was called out by the Mayor in my school assembly. I have never won anything before!
"I have a dog myself and I know how important it is to clean up after your pets. I hope my signs will make a difference and help keep poo of people's shoes for good."
Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton, Councillor Phil Page said: "Elizabeth's design was fantastic!
"It completely stood out to me because it was fresh, simple and effective which is exactly what we need to put a stop to dog fouling in our city.
"I look forward to seeing the new signs in our parks and I'm sure they will make people think twice about cleaning up after their dogs."
Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council said: "We are always looking at new ways to clamp down on dog fouling because it is something our residents consistently tell us is a problem.
"We've already made it clear with stickers on city bins stating that any public bin can be used for people to put dog mess in. However, despite our efforts, some dog owners still do not clean up after their pets.
"Elizabeth's eye catching design has very clear message which will definitely stand out in our parks. I would like to thank Elizabeth for helping us tackle this horrible issue with her fantastic artwork!"
The City Council's Public Protection team have also been clamping down on patrolling hot spot areas, providing residents with advice on how to report dog fouling and handing out dog poo bags to dog owners and walkers to encourage them to #KeepWolvesClean.
- released: Friday 20 July, 2018