Red card for fouling dog owners

The amount of dog excrement that is left in parts of Salthill including the Prom and Cappagh Park is angering residents who are now demanding that pet owners become more responsible.

And a letter written by a Lower Salthill Road resident to both members of Galway City Council and Galway County Council expresses the frustration of those who have actually stepped on it.

It has prompted renewed calls for dog owners to clean up after their pets foul the pavements or areas that are accessed by the public.

Cllr Donal Lyons said that it was a major problem throughout the summer and particularly along the prom where walkers and runners had to avoid dog excrement on a daily basis.

“There are laws in place which punish the owners of dogs who foul the pavements. But I really don’t know if they have been acted upon by the City Council . . . but it is about time they did,” Cllr Lyons added.

The female resident from Lower Salthill Road told councillors in a letter that she was reversing her bike out the front door of her dwelling.

“I stood on the most enormous lump of dog excrement which I have ever come across. Not only was it big but the dog was also inflicted with a bad case of diarrhea.

“As you can imagine when I re-entered the house to get my raincoat I noticed the trail behind me and was immediately angered again by this. This was not the first time for this to happen this week.

“About six or seven months ago I attended my first community residents meeting and lo-and-behold at the top of the agenda was the issue of dog excrement on our footpaths.

“This does not apply to just Lower Salthill Road as it is nearly impossible to take a jog or walk on the prom without having to step over waste from some lazy individual’s dog.

“I use the Prom most mornings and evenings and I do not think it fair that our beautiful amenity be ruined by some selfish individuals,” the letter writer stated.

Cllr Lyons said that the presence of dog excrement on the prom and in Cappagh Park was a health and safety issue for children and has again appealed to dog owners to be more vigilant.

He also said that it was an issue for people with special needs and particularly those on wheelchairs who used the prom.

“A lot of dog owners are very responsible and clean up after them. Indeed, there is an individual who is not a dog owner who cleans up dog poo on the Prom which is very commendable,” Cllr Lyons added.