Top of the Plops – Dogs Trust's National Dog Survey reveals what communities really think of their neighbours when it comes to scooping the poop!

More than 340,000 dog owners and dog lovers shared their insights of more than 420,000 dogs. Survey reveals what owners really think about their neighbours' poop-scooping habits Results show a mixed (poo) bag across the nations of the UK Despite 92% of dog owners telling Dogs Trust that they would never leave dog poo in public, results from the National Dog Survey show a mixed (poo) bag when it comes to what residents really think about the poo picking behaviours of their local community. In fact, results from this year's Dogs Trust's latest National Dog Survey reveal the nations of the UK are split when it comes to their opinions on their neighbours' poop scooping habits. When asked whether "Most dog owners in my community are responsible about picking up their dog's poo", dog owners in the South-East of England wagged their tails in approval, with a higher percentage agreeing that their neighbours are dutiful doo-doo scoopers. Kingston and Bromley were found to be Top of Plops, with 61% of residents feeling their community was responsible when it comes to picking up after their dogs. They were closely followed by St Albans, Twickenham and Watford. However, across Scotland and Northern Ireland, the response was a little more... poo-poo'd. Residents in Kilmarnock and Belfast do not feel their neighbours do their "doo-diligence", with just 43% and 44% respectively agreeing that most dog owners in their community were responsible about picking up their dog poo.  Unfortunately, according to people who responded to the National Dog Survey, towns in Scotland made up four of the bottom five responsible poo pickers across the UK. Alongside Kilmarnock, the communities of Dundee, Dumfries, and Motherwell did not feel dog owners in their area were responsible when it came to scooping the poop. For Wales, Llandrindod flies the flag, coming in a respectable 12th out of 115 areas, with 55% of residents agreeing their neighbours were responsible. Sadly, Cardiff only managed to place in the middle of the table, coming in at 72nd place, out of 115 areas.   Top Ten Towns Bottom Towns Kingston – 1st Bromley – 2nd St. Albans – 3rd Twickenham – 4th Watford – 5th Oxford – 6th Ipswich - 7th Cambridge – 8th Harrow -9th Hemel Hempstead – 10th   Kilmarnock – 115th Belfast – 114th Dundee – 113th Motherwell – 112th Dumfries – 111th Wakefield – 110th Inverness – 109th Galashiels – 108th Sunderland – 107th Falkirk – 106th These results come from Dogs Trust's 2025 National Dog Survey, the largest survey of its kind with over 340,000 dog owners and dog lovers sharing their insights of more than 420,000 dogs. This year's National Dog Survey is sponsored by People's Postcode Lottery. Not only is picking up after your dog the right thing to do – it is illegal not to pick up after your dog - but it also stops the spread of diseases, both within the dog population and among humans. Even healthy dogs can carry bacteria and parasites that are harmful to other animals and humans. These diseases can be transmitted by flies or other dogs that come into contact with them and include roundworm, Salmonella, and E. Coli. One of the main concerns is a rare infection called toxocariasis, caused by roundworm parasites found in dog and cat faeces. Children are most at risk as they're more likely to come into contact with contaminated soil while playing outdoors. In most cases, the infection causes no symptoms and clears up on its own. However, for a small number of people, toxocariasis can lead to more serious health problems if the parasites reach organs like the liver, lungs, brain or eyes. Symptoms can include tiredness, breathing difficulties, seizures, or even vision loss. The National Dog Survey also found that 8% of owners think it's fine to leave dog poo in a rural environment. The widely held belief that dog poo is "natural" and will just break down is incorrect; there is a lot of research showing the negative impact of dog poo on nature. Research by Ghent Univdersity in Belgium found that dog poo left in nature reserves caused nutrient pollution which alters the soil chemistry, causes eutrophication, and impacts plant biodiversity. Dog waste products can also transmit zoonotic diseases to wild animals and, when concentrated, contribute to water pollution and hinder plant growth. Maria Murray, Director, Behaviour and Community Services at Dogs Trust, says: "We know that dog fouling is a big concern to members of the public. Most dog owners are fantastic at picking up after their pups, but the results of the National Dog Survey show that, sadly, not everyone trusts their neighbours to do the same. Whether you live in a city centre or the countryside, scooping the poop is always the right thing to do. "It's not just about being a responsible dog owner – it's about respecting your community, protecting nature, and keeping public spaces safe for everyone, two-legged or four." The National Dog Survey is generously sponsored by People's Postcode Lottery; since 2013, support from its players has raised over £26 million for Dogs Trust, improving the lives of over 100,000 dogs.