LABOUR Party councillor Joe Leddin has called on environment officials in Limerick City and County Council to increase the annual budget to €100,000 in an attempt to reduce incidences of dog fouling on public footpaths.
Despite the placement of signage warning of fines at various locations, Cllr Leddin is of the view that Limerick does not have enough of the red coloured bins to facilitate the owners of dogs to dispose of dog waste.
“Recently Galway City Council initiated a campaign entitled ‘Clean it Up You Dirty Pup’ with the campaign slogan stencilled across footpaths in areas were high levels of fouling was being reported. In addition to the council’s campaign, residents in affected areas were supplied with fluorescent spray paints to spray over dog poop to further highlight the problem and alert pedestrians,” the City West representative told the Limerick Post.
“Many dog owners usually walk their dogs on similar walking routes and trails and officials from Galway City Council claimed that, over a three-month period, a 55 per cent drop in dog fouling was recorded arising from their awareness campaign.
“The stencil painting was large enough to capture people’s attention and, due to the success of the scheme in the areas trialled, the council are now expanding the campaign in other areas of the city.
“Dog fouling is nothing short of disgusting for pedestrians, parents with buggies, those with disabilities such as wheelchair users, and all those who use our public realm,” Cllr Leddin declared.
The Labour Party councillor believes that, as well as an increase in bins in Limerick, the county also needs a weekly reliable collection and emptying of the bins.
He said that he has received numerous calls from dog owners stating that the existing bins, including the one located opposite County Hall on the Dooradoyle Road, is regularly full, with bags of dog waste lying around the footpath and smelling.
“Fouling of footpaths and our parks is also a health hazard and the appearance of dog poop completely spoils our enjoyment of civic spaces and nature walks such as Plassey Canal Bank or the Condell River Pathway.
“A concerted campaign to include leaflet drops in designated housing estates with the highest incidences of dog fouling can help create further awareness of the responsibility dog owners have to clean up as we try to resolve this irritating problem.
“The Council must take this issue seriously with the placement of more bins a reliable collection service and an increased awareness campaign,” he concluded.
