COUNCILLORS CRY FOUL AS DOGS UNLEASHED IN MACROOM TOWN PARK AND PITCH
DOG owners who are leaving their pets off the leash in Macroom got their ears burnt at the monthly Blarney Macroom municipal district meeting.
Cllr Ted Lucey (FG) told the meeting that the Town Park is greatly suffering from dog fouling and he asked that signs be put in place for owners.
“Dogs are simply being left off the leash and they are going loose and damaging the Town Park. There are disposal bags in place in the park,” he said.
councillors requested that a bye-law be put in place to make it a legal requirement for dog owners to keep their pets on a leash. However, their hopes were dashed as Kevin O’Higgins of CCC told them that, while the law states “dogs must be kept under effective control”, there is “no legal requirement to keep a dog on a lead.”
He said he had sought out the opinions of the legal department as well as the local dog wardens on this very matter.
Under the Control of Dogs Act 1986, as amended by the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992, local authorities are responsible for the control of dogs. They have the power to appoint dog wardens, provide dog shelters, seize dogs, impose onthe-spot fines and take court proceedings against owners.
Under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 it is an offence to allow a dog under your control to foul a public place. This means the owner or person in charge of the dog is required to remove dog faeces and dispose of them in a suitable, sanitary manner.
A person can complain to the District Court under the Litter Laws against an owner or someone in charge of a dog who allows their dog to foul public places and who fails to act responsibly.
Before a person takes this course of action they must first inform the dog owner of their intention by completing a form available from the Dog Control Unit of their local authority. However, it is well known to be difficult to not only prosecute but equally to attain a conviction
“The only way in which a change can be brought about is by putting in place bye-laws. But then the question arises, as to who will enforce it?,” said Mr O’Higgins.
Cllr Lucey added that the local GAA pitch in Macroom “is like the Grand National” for dogs in the evenings.
Cllr Des O’Grady (SF) noted that they did not own the Town Park and he suggested talking to the Trustees of the park about the problem.