Have you put your foot in it lately?

Wednesday, 18th April 2012

Waterford City Council is launching a new anti dog fouling campaign on 21 April to encourage dog walkers to clean up after their dogs and also to encourage reports of those who allow their dogs to litter our city’s streets.

Waterford City Council is urging dog owners to clean up after their pets. Dog owners who walk their pets in any public place should always have a bag with them for use in an emergency. If the dog fouls then the owner is obliged to pick up and dispose of the litter. Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, "on-the-spot" fines of ?150 can be issued to the owners if they are caught walking away from a mess created by their pet.

BAG IT & BIN IT!

Dog owners are accountable for cleaning up after their pets in public areas. The easiest way to deal with your dog’s waste is to leave a roll of small bags beside their lead so that you will remember to take a few with you each time you walk your dog. Then just bag your dog’s poop and bring it to any litter bin or home with you.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T BAG IT & BIN IT?

Dog owners cause a health risk to others by not removing dog faeces from public places and disposing of it in a proper manner. Toxocariasis is a disease found in animal faeces. The worm eggs can only infect humans if swallowed. Children are at risk of infection when they handle dogs or toys, footballs, soles of shoes or buggy wheels which have been contaminated with dog faeces. Freshly deposited faeces are not infectious and so there is no risk of catching toxocariasis whilst cleaning up straight after your dog. Waterford City Council’s Litter Wardens enforce the Litter Pollution Act, 1997-2003 which allows for litter fines of ?150 to be issued for anyone who does not immediately clean up after their dog and dispose of the faeces in a bin. If this fine is not paid, court proceedings can be initiated where a maximum fine of ?3000 can be imposed.

REPORTING DOG FOULING:

You can help to tackle this litter problem by reporting anyone who does not clean up after their dog to Environmental Services, Waterford City Council at 849563,

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or logging your complaint on http://www.waterfordcity.ie

By providing information on offenders, you can help to clean up our streets. If you are experiencing a problem with dog fouling in your area or witness a dog owner who allows their dog to foul in a public place without cleaning it up afterwards, you can report it to Waterford City Council with as much information as possible:

- The location, time and date where the incidence took place

- Frequency of offence (if it happens regularly)

- Description of the dog

- When the dog is usually walked

- The owner details and address if known

- Your contact details

Remember: the more information you can give the greater chance there is of offenders being caught.

Compiled by Environmental Services & Planning, Waterford City Council. For further information contact Ella Ryan, Environment Awareness Officer, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford. Telephone: 051 849938. Website: http://www.waterfordcity.ie