Limerick City and County Council is set to cry foul on pet owners who fail to clean up after their dogs on the city and county’s streets.
The local authority is teaming up with Limerick’s Live 95FM's Street Boy, who will take to the streets, starting in Newcastle West today, 26th July to encourage dog owners to clean up after their pets.
It’s all part of Limerick City and County Council's ongoing Any Bag Any Bin campaign to combat dog litter.
The campaign will follow on from Newcastlewest with visits to Askeaton, Limerick City and Kilmallock next week.
The message is simple:
- Always clean up after your dog
- Remind your relations, neighbours and friends to do the same
- Take multiple bags on walks, just in case
- Use any bag any public bin, your own bin or flush the poo down the loo.
In addition to the joint campaign with Limerick’s Live95FM, other initiatives taken by the Council to combat dog litter include; local radio adverts, Park Rangers and Environment Inspectors/Litter Wardens handing out dog litter bags, talking lamp posts that remind people to clean up after their dog and an ‘any bag any bin campaign’.
Said Sinead McDonnell, Environment Awareness Officer with Limerick City and County Council: “Minister Denis Naughten summed it up when he said that if your dog fouled in your own home, you’d clean it up immediately. The same should apply to our streets. Yet the amount of people who do not take this level of care is disappointing. We see it in on streets, parks, river bank walks, etc. and it’s unacceptable.
Speaking in the Seanad on the matter, Minister for Communications Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten said: “Dog faeces contain bacteria and worms which can be particularly harmful to young children. It is picked up on the wheels of bikes and buggies and is brought into homes across the country. It is also a particular problem for wheelchair users.” he said.
Dog fouling is an offence under the Litter Act and dog owners who fail to clean up after their pet can face an on-the-spot fine of €150 or up to a maximum fine of €3,000 in court for each offence.
Said Joe Nash, CEO of Limerick’s Live 95FM; “Dog foul is a real scourge and there’s no excuse for it. We are really pleased to play our part in this campaign and raise awareness about it, it’s irresponsible not to clean up after pets.”
Pet owner Nigel Dugdale added: “If you own a dog and your dog does its business on our streets, then it is your responsibility to pick it up and bin it. Leaving dog dirt on our streets is a danger in terms of public health aside from being irresponsible.”