Wellington Shire Council is asking locals to do their part to keep communities clean by scooping their dogs’ poop when out and about.
The reminder is in response to an increase in customer complaints received by Council, specifically from residents who continue to do the right thing, however, are left to encounter smelly surprises on their walks.
Council Local Law requires dog walkers to carry a device such as a bag, to pick up what their dogs leave behind. Whilst Council provides dog waste bags in high use areas, it does so as a courtesy. Doggy bags can be easily purchased at various outlets within the shire. Doggy bags can easily be remembered by tying them to your pet’s lead or using a collar-clipped doggy bag holder.
Failing to pick up after your dog is an offence and could attract a fine.
In line with recent community feedback, Council would like to reiterate the fundamental reasons to pick up after your dog. These include:
- The simple act of picking up after your dog can assist with removing harmful nutrients and bacteria from local waterways.
- Pet waste is a significant source of pollution and may contain harmful organisms such as Giardia, Parvovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli that can be transmitted to humans and other animals by ingesting contaminated water.
- Pet waste degrades slowly. It will eventually break down, but it’s a long process, and abandoned dog excrement tends to accumulate much faster than it takes to break down.
- Pet waste is not a fertilizer. Dog poo actually impedes landscaping efforts and kills grass if you let it sit out for too long.
Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye said that taking your dog for a daily walk is important, however it’s also important to pick up their waste on walks so other walkers can enjoy our footpaths and parks.
“Council encourages dog owners to be considerate and bag their pet’s waste appropriately. It is up to the public to ensure they have the means to pick up after their dog and make sure our open spaces can be enjoyed by everyone” Cr Bye said.
It is also timely to remind dog owners that if you’re in a public place, dogs must always be kept on a lead in designated on-lead areas.
