An Aberdeenshire initiative designed to encourage pet owners to clean up dog poo – by spray painting it bright pink – is expanding.
The initiative, which saw dog mess being tagged with a biodegradable neon spray by rangers on the footpaths around the Bennachie Centre, was introduced last summer.
The campaign was subsequently broadened into Westhill by town councillor, Iris Walker, to highlight dog owners who were not disposing of mess properly.
Now West Garioch councillors Sheena Lonchay, Patricia Oddie and Allison Grant are expanding the project out to Insch.
Progressive Independent, Mrs Lonchay, said complaints about dog mess were one of the most frequently raised issues in the village.
So she hopes the scheme can be branched out across other communities in the area.
They will launch the project on Sunday at the Insch Dog Show, which is being held at the Bennachie Leisure Centre.
Mrs Lonchay is campaigning for more dog owners to ensure that any mess is “bagged and binned” around the Garioch village.
She added: “Dog poo on our pavements and paths is the one issue which never goes away and which is always a concern to residents.
“We will see how it goes in Insch, we can certainly expand out to Kemnay and places.
“We will be out and about in Insch to see if it makes an improvement and if people notice. It certainly made a difference at the Bennachie Centre in the area around the car park.
“It seems to be helping a bit, so we’ll give it a go.”
Conservative councillor, Ms Oddie, said: “I have always been a keen walker and many of our beautiful walks are spoilt for parents and children by the prospect of dog poo littering our paths.”
SNP councillor Mrs Grant added: “The whole time I have been a councillor, I have been trying to find ways to clean up our pavements.
“Like councillor Lonchay, I am a dog owner but never see the invisible few who don’t bag and bin”.
The dog show will also promote Aberdeenshire Council’s greener dog walking scheme.
