Dog attack at Drumahoe park sparks calls for increased warden presence

Derry City and Strabane District Council elected representatives have said that more dog warden patrols are needed to tackle off-lead dog attacks and dog fouling in rural areas.

During an update report on council’s Dog Control and Animal Welfare service, which was presented to members of April’s Health and Community Committee, UUP alderman Janice Montgomery highlighted a report of a recent dog attack at Drumahoe walking park due to an off-lead dog.

“We’ve had another attack where the dog was not on a lead or under the control of the owner,” she said. “And I’m just wondering, because there’s no CCTV around that area and it is difficult to find who the dog owner is, if the dog warden could maybe up his patrols around that area.”

Council’s Head of Health and Community Wellbeing, Seamus Donaghy, assured alderman Montgomery that patrols would increase, and asked her to pass any information on to council’s dog control service.

UUP alderman Derek Hussey asked if there was a schedule of dog patrols for rural areas, or if it was ‘reactive’, and if wardens would be on-scene after something is reported.

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Mr Donaghy said the majority of patrols are proactive, with a focus on villages and towns, while patrols in rural areas were ‘more reactive’ and dealt with complaints about attacks on livestock.

Alderman Hussey replied: “I will say that some of the major rural settlements would welcome probably a few more scheduled patrols.”

Sinn Féin councillor Antaine Ó Fearghail asked how many dog wardens council employed.

He added: “I know it’s probably a thankless task they’re doing, but how many people have been prosecuted for their dogs fouling?”

“In the rural areas, and especially primary schools and stuff like that, we have loads of complaints.

“There’s loads of [responsible] dog owners out there but there’s other people who let their dogs run free and they’re killing sheep and attacking people.”

“I don’t think we have enough wardens, it’s a vast area they’re covering.”

Mr Donaghy confirmed that council currently has three wardens, and is currently advertising for a fourth.

He concluded: “In relation to dog fouling it’s probably the most difficult area of work within that section, largely due to evidence in terms of the way we get reports of dog fouling.

”Very seldom do we get reports on the owner of the dog or the particular dog itself, so it can be difficult to gather that evidence to either issue a fixed penalty or prosecute.”