COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
MOTION NO.15
MOTION: Councillor E. O'Brien
"That the Chief Executive provide for the installation of "bio degradable mitts" to provide for a reduction in incidences of dog fouling in parks in the Lucan Area."
REPORT:
In general, under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, where faeces has been deposited by a dog in any place to which the section applies, the person in charge of the dog shall immediately remove the faeces and shall ensure that it is properly disposed of in a suitable sanitary manner. It is a matter for dog owners to make their own arrangements to ensure they comply with the requirements of the Act. The Council provides approximately 650 litter bins across the county, both on street and in parks, which accept general litter as well as dog waste.
The Green Dog Walkers programme was launched in 2013. Green Dog Walkers (GDW) is a regional programme involving South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Meath County Council and Wicklow County Council. The Green Dog Walkers programme is a non-confrontational, friendly way to change people's attitudes about dog fouling. It is a community based scheme where volunteers in the community can adopt and promote in their own area. Members of the public can apply through Social Credits at www.socialcredits.ie
Volunteers who become Green Dog Walkers are provided with an armband and bone shaped dog dispenser and commit to the following:
- clean up after their dog
- wear the armband or put the Green Dog Walkers collar on their dog when walking
- carry extra dog waste bags
- be happy to be approached to 'lend' a dog waste bag to those without
- be a friendly reminder to other dog walkers to clean up after their dogs
Since the launch of the scheme in 2013, over three hundred people have signed up to become Green Dog Walkers in South Dublin County.