What do you do with the doo-doo?
Last week, Cork County Council’s Environment Department launched their annual dog fouling campaign, encouraging people to pick up after their dogs.
While picking up after the dog is the first step to solving the issue, in Fermoy it was noted that individuals were not properly disposing of the waste. Behind a wall at St Colman’s Pitch, which is a privately owned popular walking spot in the town, multiple bags of dog poo have been dumped.
It is understood that the issue is an ongoing one in the area, with individuals happy to pick up after their dogs, but not so keen on proper disposal afterwards, opting instead to litter.
Recently, a statement from Cork County Council’s environment department also highlighted the issue of dumping bagged dog poo.
“Many dog poo bags end up in the ditch, the sea and hanging from trees. This is litter!! All poo bags, even compostable bags should go in public bins or your general waste bin. Dog poo should not be put in the compost or food waste recycling bin either. Always pick up after your dog and protect public health,” the statement read. PUBLIC AMENITY AREAS
Cork County Council recently confirmed to The Avondhu that dog wardens have issued one fine for dog fouling in the Fermoy Municipal District area this year.
Last year, Cork County Council issued seven fines for dog fouling offences across the entire county, while in 2020, that figure stood at just two.
According to a Fermoy local, a ban on dogs in the popular amenity should be considered to stamp out the dog fouling and concurrent litter that arises from picking up after dogs.
While the amenity is privately owned, it raises the question regarding whether the issue of dog fouling could see limitations regarding the permittance of dogs in public amenity areas.
Enquiries were issued to Cork County Council regarding the matter, to which a spokesperson responded: “Cork County Council have no public amenity areas (walking trails, parks etc) that they manage in the Fermoy MD area where dog bans have been imposed.”