Lawyer mom launches ‘Turd Alert’ app to report dog poop to council

After becoming depressed by the waste on the streets near her house, a mother-of-two developed an app to report dog poo to her south London authority.

Jenifer Swallow, 46, founded ‘Turd Alert’ after discovering she couldn’t travel 20 yards down the road without stepping in the muck. The app notifies Southwark Council, where Jenifer lives in East Dulwich, of any feces, and it is scheduled to be spread countrywide. Workers are then required to clean up the mess within 48 hours of its discovery.

According to the app’s description, there are 81,000 dogs in the Southwark borough, and three tonnes of poo would be left on the streets if 10% of dog owners do not pick up after their pets.

According to Southwark Council’s website, it will pick up dog poop within 48 hours and will issue a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice to individuals who do not clean up after their dogs.

The council cautions that repeat offenders will be prosecuted and face fines of up to £1,000 if convicted.

‘Turd Alert is meant to assist us all keep our streets clean by making it simple for you to report dog fouling in your local area,’ Jenifer, who also runs LawTechUK, said.

For the time being, we only serve the London borough of Southwark.

Southwark Council promised to pick up dog waste within 48 hours.

‘We are not accountable for the council’s performance, but your notifications urge them to do so.’

Jenifer is also a business leader, consultant, and coach, and she and her husband, Nicholas Porzig, developed the technology.