Dog fouling a problem in a number of areas around the town
Cllr Michael O’Connor didn’t beat about the bush when raising a filthy problem at last week’s meeting of Bray Municipal District.
‘Secondly, dog sh*t,’ said Cllr O’Connor. He said that he has been approached by residents about the problem, particularly with regard to the Boghall Road.
He wondered if there was information available about the amount fined on a monthly basis and said that dogs should not be allowed to deface the pavement.
Cllr Brendan Thornhill said that this is happening all the time and even worse, he said, people are picking up the ‘dog poo’ and throwing the plastic bags in hedges.
‘It’s definitely something that has to be looked at,’ said Cllr Thornhill.
Cllr Steven Matthews said that the District Administrator has been looking at some kind of postering and signage. ‘What do you do about people who don’t pick up after their dogs?’ he said. ‘Dog owners always seem to be distracted when their dogs are doing their dirt.’
Cllr Matthews said that he has experienced the problem when pushing a pram around the town.
Cllr Pat Vance said that a couple of weeks ago he saw nine dogs going around Ballywaltrim sports park off their leads. ‘Some people do pick up after their dogs,’ he said. ‘However, it’s very serious.’
Cllr Matthews suggested that as a council they should look at implementing some sort of code of conduct for use of public spaces, possibly keeping dogs on their leads. ‘It’s very hard to prosecute dog fouling under the law,’ he said. ‘Perhaps if they are not complying with codes of conduct they could be asked to leave the area,’ he said. Cllr O’Connor said that would have to be done in conjunction with dog runs being provided for dogs to run around.
Cllr MAtthews said that he has been talking to Cllr Oliver O’Brien about a dog park.
Cllr Pat Vance said that people who don’t pick up after their dogs are not going to go to a dog park.