A clever recycling dog is helping clear the streets of litter by collecting hundreds of plastic bottles during his daily walks.

Scruff, a 13-year-old border collie, has been dubbed “the eco dog” by local residents who love watching him do his part for the environment.

Owners David Grant and Yvonne Faulkner-Grant adopted Scruff from a farm in 2009. He loved playing with sticks like many other puppies. However, Yvonne discouraged him from doing so because he was afraid of getting his mouth splintered. He began playing with plastic bottles instead.

Years past, and it was 2021 when David and Yvonne first noticed on their walks that their litter-picking hound had a fascination for plastic bottles. He would pick up a plastic bottle and then carry it around until he found another.

” We thought it was wrong for him to pick up the bottles and drop them again. We got him to bring the bottles and put them in bags. Then we counted them at the end. .”

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The counting began in 2022, as it never occured to their owners before. And after a slow start with just 40 in January, Scruff has now retrieved more than 1,000.

Over the last year, the couple have been sharing their pet’s green credentials on social media using the #scruffsbottlepatrol hashtag.

” We get so many reactions on Facebook, where Scruff is dubbed an “eco-dog”, said Yvonne.

” Many people have suggested that he should work for the council. Everyone loves him when they pass him on the streets,” David said. “He is such an obedient dog and very friendly–your typical sheep dog. He doesn’t chew the caps or bottles, he simply [wantedd] to play .”

“Now, he seems to go out looking for them on walks.”

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They are currently storing them all on one side of the garden, where they will sit until New Years, when the couple will do a big count. Come 2023, Scruff will continue to clean the streets and parks on his walks, but the couple have said they will recycle the bottles every month instead.

“Sometimes he collects 15 and sometimes it’s only one–it depends how dirty the streets are that day,” said David. “Someone said to me the other day that not all heroes wear capes and that is exactly what I think Scruff is doing–being a hero.”

“If a dog can do it anyone can.”

WATCH Scruff in action…

SHARE This Hero Without A Cape On Social Media, Maybe With The Hashtag…