'A nudge to pick up the fudge': US city flags dog poo left in public places

Campaign in Springfield, Missouri, urges residents to clean up after pets as city says it picks up nearly 25 pounds of dog poo a week

'A nudge to pick up the fudge': US city flags dog poo left in public places

Officials in small-town America are planting miniature but powerfully frank flags in piles of abandoned dog poo in public places, as part of a campaign to get residents to clean up after their pets downtown.
The police department in Springfield, south-west Missouri, posted photos of the flags in use on its Facebook page on Wednesday.

The flags don’t pull any punches with the pooches. They feature messages messages including: “Is this your turd? ‘Cuz that’s absurd” and “This is a nudge to pick up the fudge”.

The campaign started earlier this week and the department noted on the social network that leaving behind a pet’s mess in many cases violates a city ordinance. And it’s eco-friendly in more ways than one. The flags are made of bamboo and recycled paper.

Don’t Let Your Dog Ride in the Back of Your Truck Unrestrained. An estimated 100,000 dogs die each year from riding in pickup beds each year, and that doesn’t take into account all of the injuries seen each year. Dogs in pickup beds are also at risk of being hit with debris that can cause injuries.

The city said it picks up nearly 25 pounds of dog poo a week from downtown parks and parking areas, costing $7,500 annually.