Belfast Council Moves Dog Fouling Campaign North

Belfast City Council is moving its dog fouling campaign to the north of the city, in a bid to crack down on dog litter.

The 'Your dog, your job' campaign was launched in west Belfast last month.

The Council says it resulted in a reduction of dog litter in the area by just over a quarter (26%).

Fourteen straying dogs were seized, while nine owners are now having action taken against them for failing to have a licence for their dog.

They will also have to pay an £80 fine for allowing their dog to stray.

Councillor Pat McCarthy, chairman of the Council's Health and Environmental Services Committee, said: "We knew before we started this campaign that straying dogs accounted for part of the problem but when we think of stray dogs we think of dogs that have no owners.

"The experience of the dog warden team in the west of the city is that owners are letting their dogs out, unaccompanied, to roam the streets and do their business wherever they like. This is totally unacceptable and is contributing to the problem of dog fouling on our streets."

The campaign is aiming to make dog owners aware they are responsible for cleaning up after their pet, as failure to do so will result in an £80 fine.

Councillor McCarthy added: "People are fed up with dogs fouling on our streets and are frustrated that some dog owners still think it's ok not to clean up after their pet.

"There is no excuse for not cleaning up after your dog – not only is it unsightly and inconvenient, there are also health risks associated with dog faeces which can be harmful to people, especially children.

"You don`t need a special bag or a special bin; we all have plastic bags at home so pop a couple in your pocket when you're out with the dog and there are hundreds of litter bins dotted around the city on streets or in parks, and you can use any one of them.

"The message to people in the north Belfast area is that our dog wardens will cracking down on irresponsible dog owners, and if you're out and about and you're caught not cleaning up after your dog, you face an £80 fine."

(IT)