MLA highlights scourge of dog fouling as children return to school

Local MLA Michaela Boyle has appealed to dog owners, and particularly at this time of the year when children are starting back at School, to take a conscientious approach and clean up if your dog fouls on the pavement.

“The issue of dog fouling is consistently registering as a foremost area of complaint among residents as evidenced by the returns from the household constituency survey Sinn Fein has been conducting in different areas of Strabane town and therefore it is important that a constant focus is kept on the problem.  

“The nature of these complaints about dog fouling is amply reflected in a conversion I had had this week with a local mother who spoke of how she dreaded walking her child to school again at the start of the new term as the Melmount Road area is one of the worst hotspots for dog fouling. Unfortunately the routes to our local schools seem to be along among the worst affected areas so I feel it is timely to highlight this issue once again.

“In an effort to bring a renewed focus to the issue I, along with party colleague Cllr Brian Mc Mahon, have met with Council officials in an effort to discuss how more pro-active approach can be taken to address the problem.

“The Council officials outlined a number of new initiatives to be rolled out in the Autumn, including stepping up public awareness campaigns but also indicating the adoption of a zero tolerance approach to this issue, with the sanction of fines to those who flagrantly allow their dog to foul in public.

“I would also once again highlight the fact that poop-a-scoop disposal bags are available free of charge from Council and I would urge that all dog owners to avail of these bags and to use them to dispose of dog foul in the red dog waste bins that are strategically placed throughout every area.

“Sinn Fein is constantly being contacted by residents seeking to have red bins which have been vandalised replaced. The cost to local ratepayers of replacing these bins is considerable so I would make a heartfelt appeal for them to be left alone.
Dog fouling is not just a messy issue it is a health hazard.
Toxocara Canis, caused by larvae of parasites, parasites that usually live in the intestines of dogs and cats, these eggs can be swallowed by children, and after entering the body the eggs hatch into larvae that penetrate through the walls of the digestive tract and may migrate to a child’s liver, lungs and elsewhere and cause blindness.

“Using a poop-a scoop only takes a minute but the health damage done to a child infected by dog fouling can last for life!"