Council Targets Dog Fouling in New Campaign

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has launched a new awareness campaign to remind dog owners of the importance of cleaning up after their dogs. The new campaign was rolled out after a survey by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful found that levels of dog fouling had increased from the previous year.

Council Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin said, “All Councillors were unanimous in their support for this awareness campaign and we intend to monitor and extend this initiative in the coming months.

“Dog fouling is a serious matter and we need to remind dog owners that not only is it unacceptable but also can potentially cause disease. It is important that we develop and promote a culture of responsible dog ownership and we are asking all dog owners to help us keep the parks and open spaces in the Newry, Mourne and Down area clean and welcoming for all users.”

The awareness campaign will highlight the responsibility dog owners have to clean up after their dogs and put any dog mess in appropriate bins, along with a reminder that those not disposing of dog mess are guilty of littering and can be issued with a spot-fine of up to £80. Notices about dog fouling will be displayed prominently across the district to ensure that campaign messages are clear to all.