Simon is new ‘spokesdog’ of Canines for Clean Water

Simon the coonhound, a local rescue animal awaiting his forever home, was recently crowned the winning “spokesdog” for the Grand Strand’s Canines for Clean Water, a program of the Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium (CWSEC) coordinated by two Coastal Carolina University marine science majors, Delainie Sage and Desiree Needham.

The campaign is part of CWSEC’s pet waste outreach campaign for 2016. Eleven canines competed by walking the runway, showing off their personalities and doing tricks. Simon won with his outgoing personality and his dog trick.

He lives at the Coastal Animal Rescue while he waits for someone to adopt him; he has been there for most of his three years.

“Simon stole the hearts of everyone with his sweet personality and calm demeanor,” said Lisa Prendergast Swanger, Coastal Waccamaw Watershed education programs coordinator. “The trick he demonstrated was standing up on his hind legs and giving his handler, Shane Swanger, a volunteer at Coastal Animal Rescue, a ‘hug.’”

Simon also won the People’s Choice award and received a spa gift card to Petco, a dog toy and a treat for becoming the spokesdog. Throughout 2016, Simon will appear in various CWSEC education materials and will make appearances at multiple public outreach events.

Sunny, the cute sweater-wearing Westie, was first runner-up.

The goal of this contest was to find a “poo-llution solution” and to help increase awareness about the importance of cleaning up after our pets. Pet waste is a common source of bacteria in local waterways, according to Sage and Needham.

The goal of CWSEC is to develop and implement effective, outcomes-based stormwater education and outreach programs to meet federal requirements and satisfy local environmental and economic needs.