Just two fixed penalties were issued by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for dog fouling during a recent six-month period despite calls from councillors for a more robust response.
Environmental crime statistics presented to the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee for the period between April 1 and September 30, show that 30 complaints were received.
However, the report notes that dog fouling complaints in Mid and East Antrim have decreased from 106 during the same period in 2023 and 81 between April and the end of September in 2022.
The report also noted there are an estimated 3,000 expired dog licences in the borough. It indicates there were 110 complaints about stray dogs during the six-month period. Twenty-five were seized and returned to owners and 69 were impounded.
Statistics showed there were 224 fixed penalties issued for no dog licence, ten for straying and two for failure to comply with control conditions of a dog licence. Thirty impounded dogs were reclaimed, 36 were passed to shelters, charities and individuals, two were unclaimed/destroyed and one was sold.
Three formal cautions were issued for attacking a person, two for attacking an animal and one for worrying livestock.
Five dog owners were prosecuted for no licence, three for failing to control dogs on certain land, three for failing to comply with conditions of a dog licence and two for straying.
Ten dog attacks on a person were investigated, one of setting a dog on a person and 15 attacks on another animal.
Meanwhile, during the same period, the council received 162 complaints about littering/fly-tipping with 15 fixed penalties issued for littering and 11 for fly-tipping. Eighty litter complaints were validated. Two people were prosecuted for non-payment of a fly-tipping fixed penalty with one pending.
Council officer Patricia Allen, head of public protection, health and well-being, urged the community to report dog fouling, adding that “there seems to be hotspots”.
Coast Road Alliance Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna commented:
“Hopefully we can put a lot more resources into the dog fouling issue. Do we only have one dog warden in the borough?”
The officer remarked it has been “quite a few years” since they were called dog wardens, saying that they are now known as enforcement officers whose duties are “wide-ranging”.
She noted there are six enforcement officers to cover the borough.
Councillors were also told dog control orders will be reviewed in the new year.