Council should call foul on careless dog owners

Cllr Paul Frew, pictured here with fellow DUP Cllr Hubert Nicholl, is calling 'foul' on pet owners who fail to clean up after their dogs on streets and public play areas in the borough such as football pitches.

Mr Frew said that the issue would be debated by councillors and “hopefully agreed” at their June monthly meeting.

He said: “I receive calls of complaint about dog fouling every week and it is true that it is a problem all over the borough - in our town streets and roads and also in our villages. What I also know is that it must stop and that Council need to take a more strategic approach to this problem.

“It will not do to just clean up after people and their pets, we do not have enough staff to cover the whole borough, we do not have enough funding to continuously clean the streets of this mess. We have to change mindset on this one.”

The DUP Councillor said the problem had been raised recently with him by representatives of Kells & Connor community and football teams.

“They were annoyed about the mess left behind and concerned about the health implications especially when the dog fouling happens on the local football pitch where young people play sports,” said Mr Frew.

“I believe that there is an onus on dog owners to clean up after their pets. I also know that there is a great sense of feeling from the community on this issue and people are sick of seeing this mess on our streets and footpaths.”

He added: “I have managed to move Council in a certain direction on this issue and although I haven’t achieved everything I want we have made progress.

“It is being proposed by Council officials that an incident reporting form could be utilised by elected members, staff or members of the public particularly in areas where there are ongoing issues of dog fouling and even littering or fly tipping.

“The borough Warden Service can make reporting forms available to households and community groups and they will be visiting schools to raise awareness and also educate the young people in the risks associated with dog foul.

“The community’s assistance in this way will facilitate officers in tackling this issue and the knowledge that the community are watching for and reporting incidents will be a deterrent to many,” said Mr Frew.