Did you ever step in dog sh*t in Tipperary? Council issued zero fines this year

Tipperary County Council has defended the fact that it issued zero fines for dog fouling in 2023 by stating the offence “can be difficult to prove”.

Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that Tipperary County Council handed out 105 fines for litter offences and collected almost €5,000 in litter fine payments in the first 10 months of 2023.

However, the local authority issued no dog fouling fines in the same period.

This newspaper revealed earlier this year that Tipperary County Council also did not issue a single fine for dog fouling offences in the county in 2022.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The current legal framework makes this a complex area and an offence can be difficult to prove.

“An officer of the local authority would need to witness the dog fouling, establish ownership of the dog and can have difficulties obtaining owners names/address.

The council will endeavour to fine any dog owner where a dog fouling incident is witnessed by an enforcement officer of the Council.

“Tipperary County Council is extremely aware of the negative effects that dog fouling can have,” the spokesperson added.

“Not only is it unsightly, it can also have detrimental health consequences for the public, especially for young children.

“Tipperary County Council is committed to tackling the scourge of dog fouling, by engaging with the public, raising awareness and trying to change behaviour, and stresses that dog fouling is not acceptable.”

The spokesperson highlighted a number of Tipperary County Council initiatives that continued to roll out in 2023, aimed at raising awareness and tackling the problem of dog fouling.

These included the provision of mutt mitts dispensers at convenient locations throughout the county. Mutt mitts can be turned into bags for the disposal of dog waste.

A map showing the 22 locations where these Mutt mitts are available is accessible on the Tipperary County Council website.

The council continued its anti-dog fouling hi-vis jacket campaign, whereby hi-vis jackets emblazoned with the text ‘My dog supports a clean environment – Keep Tipp Tidy’, were made available to dog owners free of charge.

The local authority also continued its anti-dog fouling social media campaign, using its social media platforms and website for messaging to raise awareness with dog owners on the importance of taking personal responsibility and cleaning up after their dog.

Meanwhile, anti-dog fouling signage was erected at sites within the county, and council staff engaged with the public and distributed awareness information at festivals and events during the summer months.

The spokesperson concluded by stating that information for dog owners in relation to their responsibility is available on the Tipperary County Council website.

“Tipperary County Council is committed to working hard to tackle dog fouling issues and will continue to raise awareness of the responsibilities of dog owners through campaigns and initiatives in 2024.”