Annette Kenny, Seasonal Dog Warden, and Ciara Daffy, Environmental Community Warden, Clare County Council, at Lahinch Beach.
EXTRA DOG control patrols are to be conducted across Clare beaches this summer.
Clare County Council have announced the appointment of Annette Kenny as a dedicated beach dog warden that will monitor beaches across the county during the bathing season and ensure restrictions are adhered to.
This dedicated beach dog warden will compliment the existing patrols conducted by the county dog warden. The beach dog warden will monitor dog control during the bathing season, which runs from 15th May to 15th September annually. Beach bye-laws are in place to restrict dogs on beaches from 11am to 6pm during these dates.
A spokesperson for the Council explained, “These restrictions are in place to ensure that beaches can be enjoyed by all users. Restrictions also protect water quality and prevent harm being caused to beach users from dog-fouling. Faeces from dogs are toxic and harmful to humans, especially to young children and the vulnerable. Dogs are carriers of dog roundworm (Toxocara Canis) which can be transmitted to humans through eggs in dog faeces. Contact with infected dog poop can cause loss of sight, with children particularly at risk”.
Ballyalla Lake; Ballycuggaran (Killaloe); Bishops Quarter (Ballyvaughan); Brew’s Bridge (Kilrush); Cappa (Kilrush); Carrigaholt; Doolin; Fanore; Kilkee; Lahinch; Mountshannon; Querrin Pier; Quilty; Seafield (Quilty); Spanish Point, Trá Leathan (Doolin); White Strand Doonbeg; and White Strand Miltown Malbay are the beaches that will be monitored.
Clare McGrath, Clare County Council’s Water Safety Officer outlined, “As part of the international blue flag criteria we are required to ensure that access to a bathing area by dogs is strictly controlled. A single dog poo can contaminate an area the size of a tennis court or an Olympic size swimming pool. Protecting water quality and maintaining excellent water quality status at our Blue Flag beaches is essential to maintaining blue flag status at our beaches. We want to avoid beach closures and retain blue flag status for our beaches. This is very important for our local economy, particularly the tourism sector”.
Maria Carey, Executive Engineer with Clare County Council’s Waste Enforcement Team said the dedicated beach warden will be supported by their community environmental patrol wardens. She encouraged all dog owners “to always control their dog. Responsible dog owners need to ensure that when their dog poops, they scoop the poop. Using any bag, place it in a bin, where there is one available, or bring it home if a bin is full or not available”.
