/ Council Services

Dog Fouling

Derry City Council, like most Councils in Northern Ireland, receives a significant number of complaints each year regarding dog fouling. It is a complex and emotive issue. Many will direct their wrath at the Council for not promptly removing the mess - rather than the root cause of the problem: irresponsible dog owners who show every contempt for their environment and neighbours. Ironically, those who profess to be offended by dog fouling are often the offenders. A sustantial amount of fouling is also caused by stray dogs indiscriminately fouling in our gardens, streets, parks and open spaces.

Derry City Council is committed to eradicating the problem through a combination of education and enforcement. Education initiatives include community and schools presentations as well as promoting the message through the media. Enforcement is being tackled on two fronts, fouling and straying. Over 148 fixed penalty notices were issued to irresponsible dog owners in 2008.

It is important that dog owners realize that the mess left by their dog is both a nuisance and a serious health hazard. Dog faeces can contain a number of things which can make people ill, best known of which is the infection caused by toxocara canis (round worm). The eggs of this worm can result in a range of symptoms from aches and pains to bronchial conditions. In rare cases, eyesight may be damaged; there have been a number of recorded cases in Northern Ireland, including Derry where children have lost sight in one eye.

Additional dog fouling bins and dog fouling signage have been installed in parks, along popular walkways and in areas where there is a problem of dog fouling. Council dog wardens are currently patrolling problem areas; anyone who fails to clean up after their dog will be issued with a £50.00 fixed penalty notice. In court the maximum fine for dog fouling under the Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 is £500.   Dog owners should always carry a plastic bag or poop scoop bag when they walk their dog. In order to assist those owners who forget their poop scoop bag Council provides free poop scoop bags at the Council Offices and at all Council leisure centres.

Stray dogs also cause a significant amount of fouling. It is recognized that some irresponsible dog owners knowingly let their dogs out to self-exercise and toilet themselves i.e. stray. A dog owner whose dog strays will be issued with a fixed penalty notice or could be taken to court where the maximum fine is £200.00. It should be noted that if a dog is unaccompanied outside its owner’s property, for example in the street, it is straying.

Derry City Council is committed to tackling the serious problem of dog fouling throughout the Council area and seeks the support of its citizens. Help us to help you by contacting the Dog Control section of Environmental Health with details of problem areas. The Council would like especially to focus its resources on particular problem times of the day to approach those irresponsible dog owners who flagrantly disregard the civil amenities of others.

Finally Council would like to commend those dog owners who do clean up after their dogs; not only are they being responsible but they are showing the irresponsible dog owners that it can be easily done and that this is as integral as feeding and exercising your dog."

Please contact Derry City Council at 028 71365151 or Council Dog Shelter on (028) 71261414 for more information and ask to speak to one of our Dog Wardens.