June 2010 Press Release on Dog Fouling
Issued : Saturday 5 June, 2010

PRESS RELEASE –

COUNCILLOR CLAIRE O’REGAN (LABOUR) - DUBLIN NORTH INNER CITY

A Dirty Job – but only two fines issued in 2009 for dog fouling.

“Bring a lead, bring a bag”.

Councillor Claire O’ Regan calls for dog owners to act responsibly, especially in good weather over the bank holiday weekend when more people, with both children and dogs, share parks, beaches and public spaces.

Dog fouling is one of the most common and unpleasant types of 'litter'. It is a health hazard and an eyesore. Even if there is no infection, when dog dirt gets onto clothes or shoes it is smelly, unpleasant and difficult to clean off.

However in the Dublin City Council area, only two fines were issued in 2009 for dog fouling. Three were issued for dog fouling in 2008. Ten fines were issued for dog fouling in 2007.

Within the Dublin City Council area, a total of 24 Litter Wardens, 2 Dog wardens, and members of the gardai are ‘authorised persons’ under the Litter Pollution Act 1997 to issue notice that an alleged offence has been committed and request a fine be paid.

However it appears irresponsible dog owners try to avoid the imposition of fines, on top acting irresponsibly by allowing their dog to foul a public area in the first place. Litter wardens and dog wardens have no powers of arrest where dog owners try and take evasive action, eg by giving a false name.

“There needs to be a change of mindset” says Councillor O’ Regan. “Every dog owner must remember that every time a dog fouls a public area, people, usually children, are put at risk”.

If not cleaned up and disposed of properly, the roundworm Toxocara canis, present in some dog faeces, can cause the infection Toxocariasis in humans. If a dog has roundworm in its intestine, parasite eggs can be released in the faeces, and if not cleaned up these eggs can become infectious within 2-3 weeks, and a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria.

Signs of infection can include flu-like symptoms, aches, dizziness and nausea. The most serious problems are associated with the eye and in severe cases can result in blindness (about 50 cases a year, mainly children who have contracted the disease as toddlers).

If every dog owner regularly wormed their dog, and always cleaned up after them immediately, toxocariasis would be virtually eradicated.

“Would you want to watch your child, or any child you know, suffer from flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, cough, aches, dizziness, or nausea? How you feel if you learned you had been responsible for causing a child to lose their sight? Ask yourself this if you are even considering not cleaning up after your dog, and do the right thing. Before you even leave the house, bring a lead, and bring a bag” says Councillor O’ Regan.

“Our neighbours in Scotland have launched a ‘Green Dog Walkers’ campaign where dog owners wear a green arm band as a friendly reminder to please pick up after your dog. Green Dog Walkers also clean up after their dog , carry extra dog waste bags , are happy to be approached to 'lend' a dog waste bag to those without and act as a friendly reminder to other dog walkers to clean up after their dogs.
“Perhaps the council, in conjunction with responsible dog owners, should consider a similar initiative here” says councillor O’ Regan.”
ENDS
CONTACT – CLAIRE O’ REGAN
LABOUR COUNCILLOR - DUBLIN NORTH INNER CITY