Young Designers Lead the Way in Tackling Dog Fouling and Protecting Coastal Waters

Primary schools across Dún Laoghaire‑Rathdown were invited to design eye‑catching posters encouraging dog owners to pick up after their pets, with the winning entries set to be displayed on Big Belly bins throughout the county. Judges were hugely impressed by the imagination and creativity shown, with many posters highlighting not only the unpleasantness of dog fouling but also the serious risks it poses to our environment, particularly along the coast, where just one dog poo can contaminate an area of bathing water the size of a tennis court.

This year’s entries were proudly showcased at exhibitions in the dlr Pop-Up Shop in Dún Laoghaire and in Ballyogan Library. Members of the public were invited to enjoy the displays, where young artists called for a cleaner, more responsible environment for all. Both exhibitions also featured a Green Dog Walker Giveaway, where 42 dog owners took the responsible dog ownership pledge for free dog walking accessories.

Cllr. Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, who presented prizes to the young artists at the Dún Laoghaire exhibition, said:

“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 BigBelly litter bins.”

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, added:

“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 BigBelly 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.”

Lena Wu from Loreto Primary School Dalkey was the first winner chosen to have their poster wrapped on the county’s Bigbelly bins. 15 more winners will be revealed as the initiative rolls out county wide.  Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is encouraging all dog owners to act responsibly by scanning the QR code on BigBelly bins and signing the Green Dog Walker Pledge, helping to keep our public spaces clean.

To see all the poster entries and to sign Green Dog Walker Pledge for a free doggy poo‑bag kit, please visit:our Environmental Awareness page.