Warrington council's Leave Only Pawprints sign promotes responsible dog ownership, dog-fouling prevention and cleaner public spaces.

Warrington Borough Council's 'Leave only pawprints' campaign sign promotes responsible dog ownership and cleaner public spaces in Warrington, Cheshire. The colourful poster asks residents to make a 'pawprints promise', encouraging owners to clean up after their dogs, dispose of bagged waste correctly, carry spare bags and set a positive example to other dog walkers. The campaign uses friendly behaviour-change messaging rather than confrontation, but sits alongside the borough's formal dog-control powers. Warrington's Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order makes failure to remove dog faeces an offence and gives authorised officers powers relating to dogs on leads in specified cemeteries, nature reserves and other sensitive locations. Breaches can result in a £100 fixed penalty notice or prosecution with a fine of up to £1, 000. In 2025 the council sought 700 local 'Pawprints Champions' to promote the scheme among neighbours, families and other dog walkers, with the initiative supported by UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding. Dog fouling remains a recurring neighbourhood complaint because a minority of owners fail to pick up after their animals, leaving mess on pavements, grass, parks, paths and recreation areas. The wider issue also concerns dog control and considerate behaviour in shared spaces, especially where poorly trained or uncontrolled dogs can cause nuisance, intimidation or conflict with pedestrians, children, cyclists, wildlife and other dogs. In August and September 2026 Warrington consulted residents on renewing and extending its Dog Control PSPO, which is due to expire in 2027, including possible additional controls at Walton Lea Cemetery and Warrington Golf Course. The sign therefore represents a local council attempt to combine education, peer influence, community responsibility and enforcement to improve behaviour by dog owners and keep public spaces cleaner and safer.