Kildare County Council clamps-down on dog fouling

By Kim O'Leary

Kildare County Council has announced its plans to stop dog fouling in areas around Co Kildare.

It has erected five audio warning device units in Clane, Celbridge (Castletown), Naas, Newbridge (Linear Park) and Castledermot outside the National School.

The devices, which are in place for a three-month trial period, were developed by a Kildare company based in a business incubation unit in Maynooth.

However, it can be difficult to police dog fouling. The council's Environment Awareness Officer, Dara Wyer, said on KFM:“It’s really based on witnesses seeing the offence occurring. But we do get some calls from members of the public, and you might have a situation in a housing estate where people are maybe coming in from other areas and walking their dogs on the green in the estate. If one of the neighbours knows that person they can report the matter to the litter warden and we’ll issue a fine based on that.”

Dog fouling has become an issue in recent years particularly in residential estates, and dog owners are being urged to clean up after their dogs to avoid a fine.

Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence that can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150 and €4,000 in court.