The Lord Mayor of Dublin Tom Brabazon has launched Dublin City Council’s new dog fouling awareness campaign ‘Dog Poo, It’s Everybody’s Business’.
The aim of this campaign is to highlight the major issue of dog waste in our public parks and open spaces and to encourage dog owners and dog walkers to pick up after their dog, as dog waste affects the whole community.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the campaign, the Lord Mayor Tom Brabazon said the issue of dog waste has now become a major issue in our public parks and open spaces in the city. There are some people in our community who are more at risk of coming into contact with dog waste and putting their health in danger, such as; wheelchair users, people who are blind or have low vision, babies and toddlers as well as people who play outdoor sports. Whether you own a dog or not, dog waste in public spaces affects everyone in the whole community. I would encourage all dog owners to act responsibly and pick up after their dog as dog waste affects everyone.”
It’s estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million faecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans. Dog poo can also contain nasty bacteria such as E-coli and parasites like round worm, the larvae of which can cause loss of vision. The City Council is urging dog owners to always pick up after their dog using a Poo Bag or a scooping device before disposing of it in the nearest litter bin or taking it home and placing it in their general household wheelie bin.
A dog owner can be fined €150 under the Litter Pollution Act.
