Website to report on dog fouling

CRAIGAVON Council has posted a new website where you can report people for dog fouling.

The site www.craigavondogfouling.com is aimed at making it easier to report dog fouling.

“Complaints have been pouring in giving details of offenders, all of which are being followed up by the council’s environmental services department,” said Trevor Clydesdale, neighbourhood environmental manager at Craigavon Borough Council.

“This is yet another positive step in the campaign against dog fouling and we are delighted to be able to offer people another alternative to report irresponsible dog owners who are allowing their pets to foul on our paths and in our parks without cleaning up after them,” said Mr Clydesdale.

“We are already encouraging people to phone in with details of offenders on 028 3831 2400 – now we have the website in addition to this.”

Posters have also been designed and printed with details of the website and phone number which will be displayed in community centres encouraging people to report offenders and help to make our paths and parks a cleaner place.

The campaign is being run by the council, the Lurgan Mail, the Portadown Times, and the community.

The council says 22 offences have been detected.

There were 23 complaints about dog fouling from the Lurgan area including the outlying villages of Aghagallon, Derrytrasna, Dollingstown and Donacloney while 24 complaints have been received from the Portadown area including Long Lane, Drumnacanvy, Balinacor and Maghery areas.

No complaints have been received in the Central Craigavon area.

“Following this, the environmental wardens have delivered around 800 leaflets to six different problem areas, encouraging people to pick up after their dog or face a fine. The council’s street cleansing section have also been informed and have had the footpaths cleaned,” said a council spokesperson.

The council has also issued 22 witness statement forms to people reporting offenders, but only one has been returned.

“The witness statement forms are sent out to people who ring into council to say they have witnessed someone allowing their dog to foul. The form asks for where and when the incident took place, a description of the dog and the approximate area where the owner and dog come from. Then we can check dog licences in the area and try to discover the potential owner,” said the council spokesperson.

“Council would encourage those who have been sent a form to return the details as soon as possible so appropriate action can be taken.

“Seven warning letters have been sent out to advise people they have been reported as potential offenders for not cleaning up after their dog and may face legal action if they receive a specific complaint from a witness.”

Three new dog bins have been installed and another nine bins will be put into areas where requests have been received and a need for a bin has been identified. Two of the new dog bins were on the Gilford Road in Portadown and the third in Aghagallon.

“The dog fouling campaign is going extremely well and it is heartening to have the support of both our local papers and the members of our communities helping us to identify those who are causing the problems,” said Mr Clydesdale.

“By continuing to work together we can help in the fight to rid our borough of the blight that is dog fouling – so please keep up the good work!”.

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