Whatcom County Public Works is reminding dog owners that only a few days remain to enter the We Scoop Dog Photo Contest, a community campaign tied to the county's ongoing effort to reduce pet waste in public spaces and protect local waterways.
Entering is straightforward: fill out an online entry form, take the We Scoop pledge to pick up after your dog, and submit your best dog photo at whatcomcounty.us/ScoopPoop. Winning dogs will be featured in future county public outreach advertisements, and winning owners will receive a scooping prize pack from Whatcom County Public Works.
Why Whatcom County Is Asking You to Scoop
The We Scoop campaign is part of a broader stormwater and watershed protection effort run by Whatcom County Public Works. Pet waste left on the ground does not simply decompose harmlessly. When it rains, stormwater carries pet feces into storm drains and from there into local streams, wetlands, and eventually into Bellingham Bay and the surrounding saltwater of Puget Sound.
Dog waste contains bacteria such as E. coli and fecal coliform, as well as parasites that can survive in soil and water for extended periods. Whatcom County's many urban streams, including Whatcom Creek, Padden Creek, and Squalicum Creek, pass through neighborhoods and parks where dogs walk regularly. Elevated fecal coliform counts in these waterways can trigger shellfish harvesting closures and recreational water advisories, directly affecting the county's fishing economy and outdoor recreation culture.
The county has been running variations of the We Scoop pledge and public education campaign for several years, using a combination of signage, social media outreach, and free waste bag station installations at parks and trail access points across Whatcom County.
The Photo Contest and How to Enter
The dog photo contest is one of the more lighthearted components of the We Scoop campaign, designed to build community engagement around a topic that can feel like a chore to promote. By pairing the pledge requirement with a photo contest, Public Works gives dog owners a positive incentive to participate: show off your dog, commit to picking up, and potentially see your pup in a future county advertisement.
Whatcom County has not specified the exact deadline in the social media post, but the language used indicates entries must be submitted within the next few days. Anyone who has been meaning to enter should act quickly. The submission portal and pledge form are both available at the county's dedicated campaign page.
Winners will be chosen from submitted photos, and the county will use the winning images in upcoming public outreach materials promoting the We Scoop program. Winning owners also receive a scooping prize pack, which typically includes free waste bags and related supplies provided through the county's stormwater program.
Whatcom County Parks and Pet Waste Rules
Cleaning up after pets is required by ordinance in Whatcom County parks and on city trails in Bellingham. The City of Bellingham also enforces pet waste rules in its parks system, which includes over 60 parks and numerous trail corridors where dogs are permitted on leash. Waste bag dispensers are maintained by the city at popular trailheads including those at Whatcom Falls Park and Padden Gorge.
Beyond legal requirements, the We Scoop campaign frames pet waste cleanup as a neighborly and environmental responsibility. The county's messaging connects dog owner behavior directly to the health of local marine ecosystems, which resonates in a region where shellfish harvesting, kayaking, and waterfront recreation are central to community identity.
Bellingham and Whatcom County have invested significantly in stormwater infrastructure in recent decades, but infrastructure alone cannot address diffuse sources of pollution like pet waste. Behavior change campaigns like We Scoop aim to close that gap by making compliance easy, visible, and even fun for the county's large and active dog-owner population.
How to Participate Before the Deadline
If you own a dog in Whatcom County, the remaining steps are simple. Visit the county's campaign page, complete the pledge form, and upload a photo of your dog. The pledge commits you to consistently picking up pet waste during walks, whether in a neighborhood, on a trail, or at a county park.
The contest is free to enter and open to Whatcom County dog owners. Given that winning photos appear in county advertisements, it is also a genuinely fun way to get your dog a moment of local fame. For more details on the county's stormwater and water quality programs, visit Whatcom County Public Works online. For related coverage of local water quality issues in Bellingham, earlier reporting on the Lake Padden algae advisory covers how pet and recreational activity can affect waterway health across the county.
