The dog foul dispenser on the canal walkway.THE scourge of dog fouling in public places and the responsibility of dog owners to clean up after their pets is the focus of a new enforcement effort and social media campaign from Kerry County Council during the month of May.
Over the coming weeks, there will be a co-ordinated and targeted campaign by Enforcement Officers and Litter Wardens to patrol problem areas and public amenities in order to highlight the issue, to advise and caution dog owners, and issue fines where appropriate.
The local authority is reminding all dog owners that on-the-spot fines can be issued when owners do not clean up after their pets.
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Failing to clean up after your dog in a public place is an offence under the Litter Pollution Act and offenders face a fine of €150 which, if unpaid, can lead to a maximum fine of €4,000.
Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Michael Foley, appealed to all dog owners to play their part: “Kerry County Council works closely with community and voluntary organisations like Tidy Towns committees across the county to keep our public areas clean and tidy and is appealing to dog owners to support that effort.
“Dog foul continues to be a scourge in Kerry, a county which maintains and promotes a clean and pristine landscape for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. Dog foul can be particularly unpleasant for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users so it is imperative that owners clean up after their pets. Bag it and bin it is the message.”
