Moville dog walkers reminded to 'act responsibly' due to 'persistent' dog fouling

Moville dog owners have been reminded to “act responsibly and use doggy bags” due to several incidents of dog fouling throughout the village. 

It follows concerning reports of numerous incidents on Moville’s sports pitches of dogs fouling despite the pets not being allowed on the pitches, and other scenic walkways being covered with dog feces. 

Moville GAA club posted on their social media channels last month that they were forced to install CCTV due to the “persistent issue with dog fouling on the pitch in recent weeks and have now resorted to CCTV to resolve it.”

“Please be reminded that no dogs are permitted onto the pitch or Astro under any circumstances. With over 200 people playing and training on the pitch every week, we need to keep things clean and safe for everyone.”

Moville Celtic has had similar issues in recent times as well. Last October the club appealed to dog owners to not to walk there pets on the pitch but also to clean up after there pet if the animal got on the pitch as the problem had started to impact their games, with numerous matches and practice sessions delayed with coaches having to dispose of the waste before teams could kick off on the Bayfield pitch.

Speaking to the Inishwoen Independent last year, Chairperson of Moville Celtic John Gillen had appealed to the public to stop walking their pets on the pitches as “dog waste poses serious risks to players’ health and safety.”

This summer, the Inishowen football league club reiterated that message after more dog waste was left at Bayfield and on the Astro pitch.

“It’s disappointing to hear fresh reports of dog fouling on the Astro pitch. This poses a health risk to all who use the facility! Please, clean up after your dog,” Moville Celtic posted on its social media channels. 

Moville Tidy Towns has also appealed for dog owners to be responsible because, as well as the local pitches being covered in dog feces, it has also become an issue on “some of the popular side roads that form a loop walk around the town. Ballynally and Carnagarve are also not great. Just pick up your dog muck, please.”

Councillor Martin Farren is calling on dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs and to use the doggy bags that have been provided for dog owners on the beaches or around the Shore path. 

"People who have these dogs have to be responsible for them and should carry doggy bags with them when they are out for a walk with their dogs, and they can even buy them for very little money in the supermarkets. This is all down to not really giving a damn and just letting their dogs foul wherever they want to.”

The North Inishowen Councillor described the situation as “not acceptable by a small minority of people who just don't seem to care. Unfortunately, it is happening, and it is a very difficult one to get a handle on. I would ask people, if you are out walking your dog, to carry doggy bags with you and act responsibly.”

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Meanwhile it has being revealed that no fines were issued in Donegal for dog fouling last year. 

According to a report by Vision Ireland, Donegal County Council was one of 14 out of 31 local authority areas not to issue any fines in 2024.