Philly is home to the world’s best mascots, but a lot of people don’t know about the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) Spokesdog: Philly’s canine champion for clean waters and protector of sewers.
Last month, we found a new mascot to take on the role: Gracie Girl!
Yes, she’s an actual dog
Every year, PWD elects a new dog to lead campaigns against pollution from dog poop. Un-scooped poo is a bigger problem than most people think. It not only soils our sidewalks but also pollutes our waterways when rain washes it into storm drains. The Spokesdog reminds dog owners to pick up after their friends and keep our drains waste-free.
In June, dogs of all shapes and stripes competed for the hero’s cape at the Philadelphia Brewing Company. They came in costumes and dashing outfits, ready to prove their dedication to poo-free streets.
The results
Though any dog who practices responsible scooping habits can be a Spokesdog, three stood out from the pack at the competition.
Valla and Frankie, who stole the hearts of our judges, took silver and bronze.
And the top dog was the gentle and generous Gracie Girl, who takes long walks across the city every day with her human Joe.