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Clean it up, any bag, any bin!
19.07.18
A NEW initiative by
Donegal County Council's Litter Management team to
tackle dog fouling in public places has received a
positive response from members of the public.
This initiative sees colourful paw prints stencilled
on footpaths clearly indicating where dog owners
should be disposing of their dog’s litter.
“This is a simple initiative” says Martin Roarty,
Litter Warden for Letterkenny who first introduced
the idea to the Council. “We have stencilled
colourful paw prints on the footpaths leading to a
bin with the simple message ‘clean it up, any bag,
any bin”.
“It is about reminding dog owners of their
responsibility to clean up after their dogs and we
have targeted areas where dogs are normally walked
and where dog fouling has been causing a nuisance.
My colleague Pearse McCrory brought our stencils to
the shorefront in Buncrana where we once again got a
positive response from the public.” |
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New stencils at the shorefront in
Buncrana encouraging dog owners to clean up after
their dogs and reminding them any bag and any bin
will do. |
Dog waste is not just
smelly and unsightly, it can cause serious problems
in that it pollutes our water and poses a health
risk for people, especially children as well as
pets. Dog owners should always clean up after their
dogs and dispose of pet waste properly.
“We are keen to remind the public that you don’t
need a special bin to dispose of pet waste, it can
be put in any bin as long as it is bagged properly”
says Martin Roarty.
When not disposed of properly, this waste washes
into local waterways and causes problems with human
and pet health such as giardia; roundworms;
salmonella; other viruses and parasites impacting on
water quality.
Dog owners or handlers who do not dispose of dog
waste in a responsible way could receive an on the
spot fine of €150 and failure to pay this fine can
lead to prosecution in the District Court with a
maximum fine of €3,000. |
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