An urgent message has arrived asking if you can re-home any of these dogs from A Dogs Life as they are to be put to sleep very soon. Please help them if you can and pass on the message.

Kind regards
Lostdogs.ie.

Fine Gael Councillor for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell-O’Connor has called the ‘active implementation of the rules and penalties’ relating to dog owners who do not remove their pets’ waste from public places and dispose of it in a proper manner. In addition, she has called on ordinary members of the public to make their disapproval known and to shame offenders into living up to their obligations.

Councillor Mitchell-O’Connor made her call in response to the increasing problem of dog fouling in prominent locations throughout Dun Laoghaire. The Fine Gael Councillor stated:

“Dog owners surely realise that as well as being unsightly and foul smelling, dog faeces is a source of disease and presents a particular danger for young children. Despite this, and despite the legislation in place to deal with the problem, many dog owners simply ignore their responsibilities. Evidence of this can be seen in prominent locations such as Dun Laoghaire Pier, along coastal pathways and Dalkey Hill but the problem increasingly prevalent in many other areas”.

“Put simply some dog owners do not have the decency to remove their own dog’s dirt and are only too happy to leave the cleaning up to others. It seems that nothing short of naming and shaming the offenders will address the problem and I am calling for the active policing of the legislation dealing with this issue. This involves having dog wardens on patrol throughout the day and into the evening.”

“Least there be any doubt, dog fouling is covered under the law. Under the Litter Pollution Act dog owners must remove their pets’ waste from public places and dispose of it in a proper manner. The obligation applies to public roads and footpaths, areas around shopping centres, schools/sports grounds, beaches and the immediate area surrounding another person’s house. Most urban areas in the country have signage indicating that dog fouling is prohibited so there is no excuse though you’d imagine most people would not need to be reminded about something so basic. However, where people offend, the legislation provides for on the spot fines for offences and we need to see these imposed”.

“It seems however that we could have a hundred dog wardens in place but the problem will persist until other members of the public make their disapproval known. Perhaps by peer pressure this problem can be dealth with. It seems however that the very people who moan about other forms of littering and are quick to complain about other local issues that annoy them are content to let their dogs foul up our public places”.

Many thanks to Mary Mitchell-O’Connor for this news contribution. Do you have dog related news, a story or tip you wish to share? Email us puppy@lostdogs.ie or use the online contact form here.