Dublin pupils win dog fouling awareness poster competition in Dun Laoghaire
Primary schools right across Dun Laoghaire‐Rathdown received invitations to create striking posters urging dog owners to clean up after their pets, with winning designs destined for display on Big Belly bins around the county.The judges were thoroughly impressed by the inventiveness and artistic flair on show, with numerous posters emphasising both the unpleasant nature of dog fouling and the severe environmental dangers it presents, especially along coastal areas, where a single dog poo can pollute a bathing water zone equivalent to the size of a tennis court.The entries from this year were proudly exhibited at the dlr Pop-Up Shop in Dun Laoghaire and Ballyogan Library. Visitors were welcomed to view the displays, where budding artists made passionate appeals for a cleaner, more accountable environment for everyone.Both exhibitions additionally featured a Green Dog Walker Giveaway, with 42 dog owners signing the responsible dog ownership pledge in exchange for complimentary dog walking accessories. Lena Wu from Loreto Primary School Dalkey became the inaugural winner selected to have her poster featured on the county's Big Belly bins.A further 15 winners will be announced as the scheme expands throughout the county. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is urging all dog owners to behave responsibly by scanning the QR code on Big Belly bins and signing the Green Dog Walker Pledge, contributing to cleaner public spaces.Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, who awarded prizes to the young artists at the Dún Laoghaire exhibition, commented: "The dlr Dog Fouling Awareness Poster Competition 2026 was a tremendous success, with over 50 entries from primary school pupils across the county. The standard of artwork from all age groups was exceptionally high, and the messages clearly show that our young citizens are passionate about keeping their environment clean. I look forward to seeing the winning designs displayed on our Big Belly litter bins."Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, stated: "The dlr Anti-Dog Fouling Poster Competition 2026 shines a light on the ongoing issue of dog fouling in our public spaces. It provides a valuable platform for young artists to make their voices heard and enables the Council to showcase their work on our Big Belly bins. I encourage everyone to take a moment to view the posters and to take our Green Dog Walker Pledge via the QR code on the bins."Want to see more of the stories you love from Dublin Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Dublin Live as a preferred source, simply click here.Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content.We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
