Alliance councillor tackles dog fouling problem across Newry and Mourne

Rowallane Alliance Councillor Patrick Brown has successfully brought a motion to tackle dog fouling across the District, which has now been passed by Council.

The motion reads:

“Recognising the extent of dog fouling across the District and the need to consider innovative solutions to tackle this problem, the Council will investigate the viability of using DNA testing to identify offenders and aid enforcement officers in issuing fines, alongside an enhanced public awareness campaign of the dangers of dog fouling similar to that of other councils.”

Speaking to Newry Times, Councillor Brown said, “Dog fouling is an issue that impacts constituents across the entire Newry, Mourne and Down district.

“It is more than just an anti-social nuisance; there are significant health risks, to both dogs and humans, from discarded dog waste.

“There is a high risk of toxocariasis, which is a very serious health issue, especially for young children.

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“This is not something you should have to worry about when you take your child to the playpark or out for a walk.”

The local Councillor continued, “In the last few months as more people have been at home and exercising outside, we have all seen the huge increase in dog fouling incidents across the district.

“Unfortunately despite efforts to change this, Newry, Mourne and Down Council still only have one full-time enforcement officer covering the entire district, and on average hand out as little as one or no fines at all for dog fouling each month.

“This is significantly lower than the Ards and North Down Council which averages as many as 30 a month.

“To aid the council in their enforcement, DNA testing could potentially be a more cost-effective option in the long term than hiring additional enforcement officers.

“This should be done in conjunction with the introduction of additional bins in hotspot areas, educational and engaging signage and general awareness campaigns around the risks of dog fouling.”

Councillor Brown added, “In terms of cost, this is a feasible solution. To give one example, there is a company called Biopet labs which operates globally and services a lot of local authorities in the USA.

“The cost of getting a sample tested is just £50 which could be easily recouped through income from fines.

“At the very least, people knowing that DNA testing is happening may deter them from fouling in itself.”

Helena Young, Alliance Party representative for the Newry DEA commented, “I am absolutely delighted that my colleague Patrick Brown’s motion to explore the DNA initiative was supported by all parties.

“Dog fouling is a huge problem right across the District and I have been highlighting this for quite some time.

“Ultimately the scourge of dog fouling on our streets is the responsibility of those dog owners who have complete disregard for their area or their neighbours.

“We need to explore all avenues and initiatives in order to eradicate this problem, it is both disgusting and potentially dangerous.

“Anything that will help enforce penalties and encourage dog owners to be responsible can only be welcomed,” she added.

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Posted by NewryTimes News on Jun 29 2020. Filed under Community, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry