A video starring a talking dog poo has been released to cry foul on irresponsible dog owners.
Charnwood Borough Council wants the film, which also stars a talking food wrapper and an outspoken sofa, to shock dog owners into picking up after their pets.
During the short video, What Does Your Muck Say About You? a woman is seen walking a dog away after it has left a deposit on the pavement.
The poo (which is out of shot and never seen) says: "Hey, you can't leave me here.
"Hey, come back. I say come back.
"There's a bin right there. You could be fined £80 for leaving me here. Just pick me up in a bag, tie me up and throw me away."
The video, which has been posted on YouTube, was made in-house by members of the waste team and the street management unit.
Councillor Jane Hunt, the council's cabinet member for regulatory services, said: "There really is no excuse for dog fouling which is still the single biggest environmental complaint we receive.
"What we are aiming to do is shock people and make them think about their behaviour.
"Ideally, we don't want to fine people, we want them to take notice.
"We want people to put rubbish and dog waste in bins provided and to use the tip for other waste rather than fly-tip."
prosecuted
The talking food wrapper, aimed at litter bugs, speaks out as a woman walks away after dropping it.
It says: "I am litter, you know. You could get an £80 fine or even be prosecuted for not picking me up.
"There is a bin over there you could use. You are a disgrace."
The softly-spoken sofa is aimed at people who fly-tip.
After a woman dumps the item of furniture in a car park, the settee speaks out. It says: "Why are you leaving me here? I'm a sofa. You can't just leave a sofa in the countryside.
"You can't leave me in this car park. There is a £50,000 fine. You could get sent to prison."
The council investigates about 145 reports of dog fouling each year, with last year's campaign helping reduce incidents by 32 per cent in nine hotspot areas across the borough.
The Don't Muck Around campaign will run between July and September and will also target litter and fly-tipping.
Last year, the campaign was crowned the best in local government when it won the Local Government Chronicle's Campaign of the Year title.
An offence can be reported by calling 01509 634564 or by e-mailing or visiting: cleaner.greener@.gov.uk
www.charnwood.gov.uk
