Clean Up After Your Dog

A new survey highlights the extent of the dog litter problem in Dublin, so it's not just my shoes than have noticed the increase but everyone else as well!

Dubliners consider dog litter to be a bigger litter problem than cigarettes, gum or graffiti. And almost 4 in 10 dog owners in the capital don’t always clean up after their dog. These are just some of the findings from a new survey Dublin City Council has commissioned into litter in the capital.

The survey was conducted by Millward Brown between 28th August and 10th September 2013. It looked at Dubliners’ attitudes to litter and how they would like to see it tackled. The survey asked 400 people, including 136 dog owners, for their views.

Some interesting findings from the survey:

66% think dog litter is a problem
34% have a dog
89% feel dog owners should clean up after their dog
49% think the dog litter problem is getting worse
10% admit to rarely or never cleaning up after their dog

Survey results are available HERE

“The survey confirms what many people probably think – dog litter is perceived to be one of the city’s most significant litter problems and not enough dog owners are taking responsibility for it. Things can only improve when attitudes change. Our message is that not cleaning up after your dog is unacceptable and is a health hazard. Your dog is your responsibility so clean up after it”, says Hugh Coughlan of Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Services.

When it comes to enforcement, a majority of Dubliners, 57%, say fines are not sufficiently enforced. Only 26% feel dog litter fines are enforced enough.

Dublin City Council points out that while it does enforce dog litter byelaws the extent and nature of the problem mean litter wardens can only be one part of the solution. This is a view that the public generally are coming to share. 30% of those surveyed felt more education and awareness would improve the problem. Just 10% felt more wardens would be effective and only 2% called for new laws.

Dublin City Council released the survey to coincide with the launch of its new Public Awareness Campaign which is highlighting the extent and public health dangers of dog litter. The campaign is supported by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA). The campaign was launched in Merrion Square Park at 10am today 7th November.