The children of Bodffordd have inspired a new initiative against dog fouling in their community.
The Headmaster of Ysgol Gymuned Bodffordd, Mr Rhys Glynne Roberts took his complaint to the Isle of Anglesey County Council Environmental Health Team, “Things are bad in the village, when the children take a few steps from the school they have to avoid dog mess, this is unacceptable,” said Mr Roberts.
In the same week as Mr Roberts brought this to the Councils attention Elisha Williams, aged 12, wrote a letter into the Council. In the letter she explained how on a short walk, in the village with her Dad, she had counted 15 piles of dog mess. “I looked on the bin and the fine was £75…when you add them all together you will get £1,125,” said Elisha.
Action had to be taken, Elin Jones, Senior Waste Management Officer Project Development and Performance, wrote back to Elisha and her family. “We decided to build ‘The Bodffordd Initiative Against Dog Fouling,” says Elin. Waste Enforcement Officers and the Dog Warden have been visiting the village regularly to measure the problem and see if they can catch offending dog owners. The waste and recycling contractors Verdant sent in their SQIT to do a clean up of the pavements in the village. A team visited Ysgol Gymuned Bodffordd where the children learnt more about the issue and created posters.
The Council are trying to educate dog owners in the village. Owners can face a fixed penalty fine of £75 or a criminal prosecution in the courts which carries a maximum penalty of £1000. “It is against the law to allow a dog to foul in a public place and make no attempt to clean up after it. The majority of dog owners are responsible. We need the minority to understand it is illegal not to clean up after your dog,” said Elin.
As well as being unpleasant, dog fouling is also a serious health hazard. Dog mess carries potential diseases for both humans and dogs: Toxocara T Canis is a serious infection which can potentially cause severe eye infection and, in the most serious cases, cause blindness. Parvo is a potentially fatal disease which is transferred between dogs.
As part of the initiative an additional dog waste bin is being put up the village, more signs are being placed, regular monitoring by the Waste Enforcement Officers with the Dog Warden and dog waste bags are available at the school and shop for free. “What I really want to happen is that dog owners clean up after their dogs and the pavements are better to walk on,” said Elisha.
