Dublin authorities join forces to combat dog fouling

Dubliners are being urged to report dog owners who fail to pick up after their pets, to local authorities.

A new hotline number 1800 251 500 has been established by the four Dublin councils to handle reports of dog fouling on streets, parks and suburban roads throughout the city and county.

Currently there are in excess of 30,000 dogs living in Dublin, with 30,745 dog licences issued by the four Dublin local authorities in 2012 and 28,122 issued to date in 2013.

"Dog fouling remains a very serious issue and one of the top gripes for Dubliners. As a result, Dublin's four local authorities are coming together to launch a new initiative aimed at encouraging all dog owners to clean up after their dog," campaign spokeswoman, Therese Langan of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said.

In addition to the hotline the councils will undertake a series of marketing and promotional initiatives to raise awareness of the environmental and health issues around dog fouling, as well as events for dog owners taking place in parks around Dublin city and county.

“Dog owners who do not clean up after their dogs are creating a serious environmental and public health issue for everyone else. If not cleaned up and disposed of appropriately, dog faeces can cause serious medical problems such as Toxocara, leading to sight loss in children,” Ms Langan said.

The campaign funded by the Dublin Regional Authority, follows a recent Milward Brown survey for Dublin City Council which found 40 per cent of dog owners admitting to not cleaning up after their pets and one in 10 having never or rarely removed dog foul from the city streets. It also found nine out of 10 people thought dog owners should pick up their animal's waste, with just one in 10 saying they shouldn't have to.

“When dog owners are walking their dog in the city, in the suburbs or in one of the city’s many parks, there really is no excuse — always scoop the poop. Whether it’s with a plastic bag or a pooper scooper, safely disposing of dog litter is not only showing respect for your neighbours, it’s the law,” she said.