COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor B. Bonner

To ask the Manager to arrange that the dog warden service has a more visible presence in the Woodford / Knockmitten area of Clondalkin.  A resident reports an upsurge in dog ownership there and asks that signs could be put up in relation to the issue of cleaning up after dogs, the wearing of muzzles, the necessity of having dogs on leads etc.  Also could the dog warden service be more proactive in the enforcement of the law in this regard.

REPLY:

The Local Dog Warden carried out an audit of dog licences in the Woodford/Knockmitten area in May 2010, which involved the wardens calling to every household in the area to ascertain if there was a dog resident and if so to produce a current dog licence.  This area is patrolled regularly by the Dog Wardens which includes the park at the back of the houses. 

There were a total of 98 effective dog licenses in 2011 and currently in 2012 there are 102 effective dog licenses in the Woodford/Knockmitten area.

It is a legal requirement under the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, that a dog must be under effectual control at all times when outside of the premises of the owner/person in charge of the dog.  The following types of dogs must be muzzled at all times when out in public:

1. American Pit Bull Terrier   2. Bull Mastiff   3. Doberman Pinscher   4. English Bull Terrier   5. German Shepard   6. Japanese Akita   7. Japanese Tosa   8. Rhodesian Ridgeback    9. Rottweiler   10. Staffordshire Bull Terrier   11. Any crossbreed of the above.

These dogs must also be led by a person over the age of 16 and kept on a strong chain or lead not longer than 2 meters.

The Litter Pollution Act 1997 imposes obligation on all dog owners to clean up after their dogs where they foul in public places.   Where eye witness evidence is given and the witnesses are willing to appear in court, appropriate enforcement action is taken.

While anti dog fouling signage has in the past been erected by SDCC this did not prove a deterrent.  In its ongoing efforts to address this problem the Council in 2011 piloted an initiative of  anti dog fouling stencils throughout regional parks. The pilot is in its early stages and is being closely monitored to determine its effectiveness. The initiative has been welcomed by members of the public and it is anticipated that the programme will be extended to public parks/open spaces  in the coming year when the criteria has been determined.