POTENTIAL of installing special bins in Killaloe for dog excrement is to be explored.
In a proposal before the Killaloe Municipal District, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) asked that “special bins” be installed in Killaloe “where dog owners could dispose of dog excrement”.
Dog owners can currently bag dog excrement and dispose of it in the existing bins, senior executive engineer Niamh Madden detailed. She confirmed that the Killaloe MD would “examine the possibility of providing dog litter bag dispensers in the town of Killaloe to assist dog owners in keeping the streets free of dog fouling”.
She stated, “the majority of people walking dogs in public spaces are conscientious about picking up dog litter, but there are unfortunately still some dog owners who do not take proper responsibility in relation to dog fouling. Providing dispensers and dog litter bags has benefits and encourages dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities. However, it has been identified, that even with dispensers in place at various locations throughout the county, the problem of dog fouling still exists”.
Free ‘scoop the poop’ bags are available for dog owners at Council offices across Clare. Madden outlined, “The Environment section of Clare County Council is working with the Killaloe Municipal District and local community groups to address the issue of dog fouling across the area. In April and May of this year, Clare County Council ran a ‘Bag It, Bin It’ campaign in an attempt to encourage dog owners to pick up after their pets”.
Clare County Council are presently running “a hard-hitting campaign to advise dog-owners of their responsibilities in relation to dog fouling. The notice, which is advertised in local newspapers at the moment, requests dog owners to clean up after their dog in order to prevent ‘mess, smell and disease,” she added.
Footpaths in the Killaloe MD have been “stencilled with a message to remind dog owners to prevent dog litter on the paths. The council can also, upon request, provide leaflets on responsible dog ownership to local community groups or resident groups for distribution in the area. It is hoped that through the council’s education and awareness campaigns, all dog-owners will take responsibility for their own dogs, which will result in a reduction in the amount of dog waste throughout County Clare,” Madden concluded.
“It will be considered is that what I’m to take,” O’Brien queried to which Madden explained, “the bins there at the minute are acceptable for putting bags in the bin, we will investigate the possibility of putting a few around the town”.
Efforts to aid people in doing “the right thing” should be supported, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) maintained, “it would be great to accommodate them in some way”.
