Keep your dog’s poop off the pavement – and you could win €50 voucher
KILKENNY County Council has launched a new campaign to urge dog owners to keep ‘poop off our pavements’.
RTE broadcaster Mary Kennedy (pictured above with James) and magician Keith Barry helped kick start the campaign – #PoopOffOurPavements – which runs from today up until mid-December, in the KCLR96fm studios yesterday.
A Council spokesperson said: “Dog fouling is a county wide issue and alongside the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful community group, Kilkenny County Council is encouraging pet parents to clean up after their dogs in public spaces.”
The potential health implications associated with dog waste are serious as it contains harmful bacteria such as E-coli and parasites like roundworm. It can also cause serious kidney disorders, diarrhea, intestinal illnesses and cramps.
Dog waste can be picked up on the wheels of buggies and bikes and it is also an issue for wheelchair users and those who are visually impaired. Young children in particular are at risk of an infection caused by roundworm parasites, Toxocariasis.
Mary Cashin, Environmental Awareness Officer with Kilkenny County Council said: “We hope the public will engage with us and be mindful of other walkers and pets when out in public spaces. Not only is it an inconvenience to step in dog waste, but there can be serious health impacts.”
Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Cllr. Eamon Aylward said: “#POOP is a great campaign to get the public’s attention. Public participation through social media to highlight this problem will hopefully influence people to change their behaviour and clean up after their dog.”
Failing to pick up after your pooch is an offence, and failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150 or a maximum fine of €3,000 in court.
An online campaign is being run in conjunction with the campaign in which pet parents can post pictures of their pooches using the #PoopOffOurPavements to be in with a chance of winning four €50 Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce Gift Vouchers, which are redeemable in 150 stores across Kilkenny.
