DNA testing of dog dirt, in order to trace and fine the owners who let their pets foul footpaths and green areas, should be employed by the Galway City Council.
This is the view of Independent Galway City East councillor, Terry O’Flaherty, who said the issue of dog fouling “has grown hugely since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with an increased number of people out walking their pets”.
She said DNA tracing could prove effective, and cited the example of the Spanish town of Xàtiva which, some years ago, obliged the owners of all dogs to allow their pets’ DNA to be registered on a database, free of charge. The amount of fouling fell by 80 per cent.
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Independent Galway City East councillor, Terry O’Flaherty.
While there are bylaws dealing with dog fouling, Cllr O’Flaherty said they are effective and rarely enforced. “A dog owner who fails to clean up their pet’s waste is liable for an on-the-spot fine of €150,” she said, “but only one single owner in Galway City had such a fine imposed on them in the past five years.”
She said DNA-testing could lead to the owners of dogs being traced through tests on animal faeces left in public places. “If we are serious about eradicating this awful problem, maybe this is something that should be looked at,” she said.
Cllr O’Flaherty said most dog owners are responsible and “clean up after their dog has fouled”, but plenty more do not. “Some people seem to think it’s okay to let their dog do their business wherever they want, without any thought for children who might play there or adults who might be walking there, it's disgusting.”
