Dog Poo Bags for Snowdonia National Park

Dog Poo Bags for Snowdonia National Park

SNPA Warden Gethin Corps demonstrating how to dispose of dog mess responsibly.

If you are a dog-walker in North Wales, did you know dog mess bags are available from Snowdonia National Park’s Wardens and Tourist Information Centres' staff?

During last summer, the National Park Authority appealed to dog owners to dispose of their dogs’ mess in a responsible manner and some improvement were been made following the appeal.  However, the concern persists and the main problem areas are to be found in the most populous places - from Llyn Tegid, Traeth Benar and Llyn Mair in the southern area of the Park to Cwm Idwal, Pen y Pass, Abergwyngregyn Woods and Sychnant in the north.

The National Park's Head of Wardens and Access, Mair Huws, said "We want people to enjoy themselves when they come to walk. But seeing and smelling dog mess affects people's enjoyment of the area, and creates an unpleasant experience for everyone. Not only that, but the mess can cause serious infections such as toxocariasis and can cause damage to the environment as well.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see dog owners allowing their animals to foul and then do nothing about it. Our hope, in introducing these bags, is that owners use them to clear the mess and then dispose the bags in a responsible manner. "


Failure to dispose of dog waste increases the risk of causing serious infection, especially among young children between the ages of 18 months and 5 years through the disease toxocariasis, which can lead to nausea, asthma and in severe cases, eye disorder that can lead to blindness.  The most common form is to catch the disease through hand contact but also through the soles of shoes and other objects such as bicycle wheels.  The eggs of the toxacora parasite can be found in soil or sand that’s contaminated with dog faeces.


The little blue bags, which are biodegradable and odourless, are available from the National Park Warden Offices at Pen y Pass, Betws y Coed, Penrhyndeudraeth, Dolgellau and Llyn Tegid, Bala. They are also available from the Authority's Tourist Information Centres in Betws y Coed, Beddgelert, Harlech, Dolgellau and Aberdyfi. Some are also available at Plas Tan y Bwlch in Maentwrog and the Authority’s Headquarters in Penrhyndeudraeth.