Kildare dog walkers urged to bring bags to dispose of their pet's waste

Dog waste bags will not be provided in public spaces by the Kildare County Council despite a claim that dog fouling is on the rise.

Independent councillor and Naas Tidy Towns activist Bill Clear asked for the bags to be provided in the various dispensers in Naas such as  the lakes area and Monread Park.

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He said NTT is reporting a “significant increase in dog fouling since the bags ceased to be dispensed.”

Dog faeces is increasingly prevalent along the canal, in parks, at the lakes and on the main street, he said, adding that there are 10,000 dogs in Naas alone.

However KCC said it no longer provides separate dog waste bins or bag dispensers. Instead it  promotes the concept that dog owners should exercise responsible behaviour when bringing their dog for a walk, and that “any bag any bin” is the message that the owner needs to remember.

And that means to bring a suitable bag before setting out on a walk and to either place it in the nearest standard street litter bin or take it home for disposal.

KCC added that alternatives to dog litter bags are cheap and widely available. 

These include nappy sacks, reused plastic bags, paper bags or something similar - “basically any bag will do as long as owners pick up their dog’s waste.”

It points out that it is the owner’s responsibility to pick up dog dirt and bin it.

“Most dog owners already clean up after their dogs but not all do so. Everyone needs to have respect for their local community and neighbourhood. There is no excuse for leaving dog waste on a path, road, trail or in a hedgerow, “ KCC’s Rachel Jackson said in a report.

KCCc also pointed out that when bags were available they were often used - but were left  behind in hedgerows and trees, rather than disposed of properly.

KCC also indicated it is prepared to provide stencilled messages on paths to remind people to dispose of dog waste properly.