Pilot scheme to pick up pet poop in ‘Rock

April 2001

A pilot project to tackle the problem of people failing to clean up after their pets is launched in Blackrock by Louth County Council.

The first ‘dog fouling initiative’ sees dog walkers asked to clean up when their pets foul on the street and dispose of the mess in special bins installed at 10 locations.

It is the idea of local councillor Dónal Lynch and has the support of Blackrock Tidy Towns and supermarkets in the village.

Dog owners can buy ‘pooper scoopers’ in Londis, Main Street and Vivo, Sandy Lane, and use them to remove the incriminating evidence which can be placed in the bins which have a self-closing lid and a deodorizing block.

Four of the bins are along the promenade at entrances to the beach, with the remainder at the recycling banks, The Square, The Crescent, Chapel Pass, Barrack Corner and Cocklehill/St Fursey’s Tce.

The council is distributing 500 leaflets around Blackrock to raise public awareness of the project, which it describes as ‘a new way to tackle and old problem’.

‘Besides being a health hazard and unsightly, it’s also an offence not to clean up after your dog has fouled on the pavement,’ explains Mary Murtagh, of the local authority’s Environment Section.

Owners who ignore the law could find themselves facing a £50 on-the-spot fine, or a maximum penalty of £1,500 if convicted under the Litter Pollution Act.

As a special incentive for dog owners to get involved in the project, the council will provide three disposable ‘pooper scoopers’ free of charge to people who produce a current dog licence at County Hall.

So, hopefully that horrible sinking feeling which follows stepping on something squelchy will no longer trouble people going for a walk in the ‘ Rock.