Dog Litter awareness campaign
Clare County Council is urging dog owners to take responsibility and clean up after their dogs.
Dog poop is not only an unpleasant sight and smell, but it is unhygienic and can spread disease. It has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million faecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans. It can also contain nasty bacteria such as E coli and parasites like roundworm, the larvae of which can cause loss of vision.
Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997-2003, dog-owners are required to clean up after their animals is it fouls in a public place such as public roads, footpaths, parks and beaches. Failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150.
Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer, Clare County Council, outlined that dog fouling is not a dog problem but it is a dog owner problem and asks people to take a bag every time you walk your dog in a public place. People can simply place any bag over the faeces and collect the waste. Tie a knot in the bag and dispose of it in a litter bin or take it home for disposal. Many responsible dog owners are doing this already Poop scoop bags are available free of charge at all Clare County Council Municipal District Offices including Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush Ennistymon and Scariff.
In recent years Clare County Council rolled out the Green Dog Walker (GDW) Campaign. This GDW initiative encourages dog owners to clean up after their animals and is a non-confrontational, friendly way to change dog owner behaviour in relation to dog litter. People can pledge to be a Green Dog Walker and receive a free pack. A Green Dog Walker pack contains a complimentary GDW high-vis vest, poop scoop bags and an information leaflet. It is a fantastic tool to help individuals and local community groups raise awareness in a positive way. Clare County Council provides GDW packs to community groups for free and will continue to support communities with rolling out this initiative in their own community.
To support the Green Dog Walker initiative a countywide enforcement campaign will take place where problem areas in relation to dog fouling will be targeted by Clare County Councils Waste Enforcement Unit. The public are advised that Environmental Enforcement Officers will be on the ground and will be asking people to demonstrate how they clean up after their dog.
Page last reviewed: 16/04/19
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