Article Source: Paws on Plastic
Last Updated: 17 November 2023 17:15
The “PAWS ON PLASTIC’ campaign turns FIVE this Monday, 20th November 2023 & there are over 25,000 reasons to celebrate (or even 100,000 dogs paws!! whose owners remove over 36 MILLION pieces of litter every year from our streets, beaches, parks and countryside.)
To mark the day, PAWS ON PLASTIC is asking dog owners to not only pick up a couple of pieces of LITTER while walking their dogs, but to also post a beautiful photo on their social media using ♯happybirthdaypawsonplastic and invite others to join them in signing up on our charity’s website and following us across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
With 12 million dogs in the UK, the potential is HUGE! Imagine the impact if we all took a couple of minutes to pick up litter when we are out walking anyway.
PAWS ON PLASTIC’s celebrations will also take place locally in Stonehaven, the home of Paws on Plastic, on Monday, by the stunning DUNNOTTAR CASTLE with a PHOTOCALL at 2pm to which local members and dogs are invited to join us.
Paws on Plastic is proud to call Stonehaven home and was delighted when Dunnottar Castle kindly agreed to using Stonehaven’s most stunning local attraction as the backdrop for the event.
Founded in Stonehaven, NE Scotland, in November 2018 by Primary School Teacher, Marion Montgomery, while on long term sick leave from teaching, PAWS on PLASTIC, became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCO51306) in September 2021. The charity encourages dog owners to pick up a few pieces of litter on walks to protect animals, communities and our precious environment and it also educates on the consequences of littering, giving talks to schools, community groups and other organisations plus attending dog shows and community events in order to spread the message further. For the past year the charity has also held monthly beach cleans at Stonehaven Beach in conjunction with Plastic Free Stonehaven on the 1st Saturday of the month. (next one is 2nd December 10-11am.)
“It’s amazing how far PAWS ON PLASTIC has grown in 5 years. It’s something that I started while off on long term sick leaving from primary teaching – never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that we would attract so many amazing people keen to do their own wee bit on walks every day to protect animals and the environment. It’s an incredibly simple concept but I think that’s exactly why it’s been so successful – it only takes a minute to pick up a couple of bits of litter when we’re out walking anyway and it actually gives a real boost to MENTAL HEALTH and sense of achievement seeing an immediate, visible difference in an area. It’s empowering, completely open to all and our impact is HUGE – 25,000 members and followers in over 70 countries removing well over 36 MILLION PIECES OF LITTER every year!
Our aim is to make it just a normal part of an every day dog walk and I’d encourage every dog owner to join us! It feels great to be part of such a positive, dog owning community inspiring change & positive action across the world.”
“I would like to say a huge thank you to my family, friends and all our amazing members and followers for all their efforts. Also a huge thanks and well done to all our partners and fellow environmental organisations who have been so amazingly supportive of us from the start. We are proud to be part of the wonderful environmental network and a huge well done and thanks to all the tireless, committed volunteers out there making a difference every day in their own communities.’ says Marion. “Every single piece of litter removed makes a difference.”
Heather McLaughlin, Campaigns Coordinator at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "Everyone at Keep Scotland Beautiful sends a huge congratulations to Marion and all those who support Paws On Plastic as they celebrate their fifth birthday and we have been inspired to see how the initiative has grown since we first worked together.
"This fantastic initiative has shown how big an impact little every day actions taken by people across the world can have as they pick litter while walking their four-legged friends.’
"Paws On Plastic's enthusiastic approach to keeping Scotland beautiful is much appreciated by all and we're extremely grateful for all their support as we tackle Scotland's litter emergency - one piece of litter at a time."
THE highly anticipated team-up of Deadpool & Wolverine is finally arriving at screens across the UK and Ireland this weekend at Vue Cinemas.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s award-winning Cold Town Brewery has launched a nationwide search to appoint an honorary chief taster to help develop its new summer beer range.
READ MOREJoin a very special session on Zoom as The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) celebrates The Gruffalo's 25th birthday, in partnership with Macmillan Children's Books!
READ MORECharity appeals for Footpath Fund donations as countryside visitors increase by 16 percent in first half of the year.
READ MOREMusic lovers have a lot to celebrate this summer at Vue, with three exciting titles hitting the big screen – including BLACKPINK’s latest concert film.
READ MOREGo Forth Stirling, the city’s BID (Business Improvement District), is hosting a Mini-Olympics with fun and games for all the family in the pedestrianised section of Port Street.
READ MOREIn the halls of Bannockburn House a team of dedicated volunteers have uncovered a rare and fascinating piece of history that could have altered the story of the nation.
READ MOREMacrobert Arts Centre is delighted to announce the return of the annual Christmas Appeal, which provides local disadvantaged families and young people with tickets to Macrobert’s pantomime.
READ MOREIn response to Scotlands gloomy and grey summer weather, Aldi Scotland has launched a nationwide hunt for the country’s Ultimate BBQ Ambassador.
READ MOREThe landscape photography competition will run until October with three prizes up for grabs!
READ MORETrust in the Park has teamed up with renowned round-the-world cyclist and filmmaker Markus Stitz to showcase Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park’s accessible routes this summer.
READ MOREOn 22 August, the team at Impact Arts will raise a glass to three decades of life-changing work, as Scotland's leading creative engagement charity prepares to mark its 30th anniversary.
READ MOREA series of blooming planters are adding a welcome splash of colour across Stirling city centre this summer.
READ MOREDobbies is celebrating National Allotment Week by inviting gardening enthusiasts across the country to a series of free Grow How workshops throughout the month, focusing on allotment gardening.
READ MORENeurodiversity charity Salvesen Mindroom Centre collaborates with local creative organisations to create opportunities and support the transition to life beyond school.
READ MORESituated in the heart of the historic region is the iconic Crieff Hydro Hotel, which has announced a host of exciting summer activities for the whole family to get involved in.
READ MOREAn incredible eight businesses and individuals in the Stirling area are in the running for the prestigious Scottish Thistle Awards.
READ MOREArtists and creatives in the Stirling area are being invited to put their ideas forward to design trophies for the prestigious Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
READ MORERenfrew's Robertson Park will host Scotland's top piping talent once again as the Renfrew Pipe Band Competition returns to the town on Saturday 20th July.
READ MOREVisitScotland has analysed over 11,500 books on the Goodreads database to reveal readers’ top-rated books set in Scotland and the regions most frequently depicted in literature.
READ MOREScotland's biggest live music event has been confirmed to go ahead next year, and fans can get their hands on early bird tickets this week.
READ MOREAction Glen Adventure Park, located at Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire will welcome a trio of robotic-dinos on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July.
READ MORECommunity groups in Scotland to be awarded grants ranging from £10,000 to £25,000.
READ MOREBe Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) is thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for the third BIH Spotlight Awards.
READ MOREOn the first day of the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open in North Berwick, young golfers from across Scotland received a surprise visit from the tournament’s official championship trophy.
READ MOREBorders stately home Floors Castle is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its Inflatable Insanity giant obstacle course this summer!
READ MORESleeping Warrior Theatre Company are delighted to bring their latest musical extravaganza, To Save The Sea, to Scottish stages this autumn.
READ MOREScotland's national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year Award, has launched, inviting artists, music fans and labels to submit eligible albums and be in the running for the prestigious prize.
READ MOREThe inaugural Summer Sessions at Stirling City Park have won widespread praise after thousands of music fans attended a series of headline concerts in the shadow of Stirling Castle.
READ MOREDobbies is inviting children aged 4-10 to a free and interactive Little Seedlings workshop on Sunday 4th August, that includes a dedicated gardening Show and Tell.
READ MORE