Dog poo fines to rise as new Laois campaign is launched

FINES for dog fouling will increase to €250 from 1 September, a steep rise from the current rate of €150.

A new anti-dog fouling campaign for the county was launched in Páirc an Phobail, Portlaoise last week, aiming to promote responsible ownership and encourage owners to clean up after their dogs.

Throughout the summer, the issue of dog fouling is one that escalates compared to the other seasons of the year, as people are out and about more walking their dogs through parks and other open spaces in Portlaoise and around the county.

Laois County Council is urging dog owners always to pick up after their dogs, using their own scooping device or bag, or one of the free dog poo bags provided around the county, before disposing of it in the nearest litter bin or taking it home and placing it in their own general household bin.

The council promotes an ‘any bag, any bin’ philosophy and reminds dog owners that they are legally obliged to clean up after their pets if they go to the toilet in public places, whether on the street, in an open green space in a housing estate or in a park.

Failure to do so may result in the offender being issued with an on-the-spot fine of €150 or up to €3,000 on summary conviction in a district court.

If you see someone allowing their dog to foul in a public place without cleaning up after them, you can call the Laois Litter Hotline, in confidence, on 1800 32 32 30.

Members of the public are also reminded that it is a legal requirement for all dog owners to hold a valid dog licence, for dogs to be microchipped and to be wearing an ID tag with the owner’s details on it.

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