Clean-up welcomed

An awareness day is to be held in Drumahoe to make dog owners conscious of their responsibilities in cleaning up after their dogs.

Dog fouling is a serious problem in many areas across the North West, and the community association in Drumahoe is being proactive in trying to create awareness of the issue in its area.

The Drumahoe Community Association newsletter for March said primary school children will be involved with a poster campaign, and leaflets and doggie bags will be distributed to pet owners on the streets.

The newsletter said: “If we are to make any headway with this major problem, we need people to report offenses to the Dog Pound on 028 71261414 and/ or contact Environmental Health at Derry City Council on 028 71365151.”

It is hoped that in the near future additional signage and bins will be erected by the council.

The issue has been a sore point in Drumahoe for some time, and parents are becoming increasingly concerned at the presence of dog dirt on pavements and grassy areas near the school. Also, the problem has been highlighted at the YMCA, where sometimes rugby players have found themselves coming into contact with dog dirt.

YMCA secretary, William Lamrock, who has highlighted the issue in the past, has welcomed the move.

He said: “This is something that’s greatly needed. People need to be aware of their responsibilities with dogs and dog fouling on pavements, roadways and pitches. They need to be kept clean of dirt as this can spread disease.”

While Drumahoe is making efforts to tackle the issue, it is by no means the only part of the city facing problems caused by irresponsible dog owners who refuse to clean up after their pets.

It is known that at least two people in Londonderry - one in the Waterside and one in the cityside - have contracted a disease that left them sightless in one eye as a result of coming into contact with dog dirt as children.

Toxocariasis usually affects children who are between 1-4 years of age. However, cases of toxocariasis have been reported in people of all ages.

Young children are particularly at risk of getting toxicariasis because their play habits make them more likely to come into contact with contaminated soil. Many young children also have a habit of eating soil. However blindness is an uncommon result, though the disease can also have very unpleasant effects.

Asking not to be named, one man, whose nephew lost his sight in one eye and still has to have regular check-ups on the other more than a decade later - has praised the efforts being made to combat the problem in Drumahoe.

He said: “My nephew’s family didn’t have a dog. We never found out how he came into contact with dog dirt, but it could have been from a shoe, or from playing on grass. But the result was that he lost the sight of one of his eyes when he was around eight years old. It’s obviously hada terrible impact on his life. We’ve never felt the council has done enough in terms of prosecuting or fining people who allow their dogs to foul public areas, and it’s great to see a community association taking positive steps to highlight the dangers in areas used by children.”