Issue - meetings

It was moved by Councillor Carragher, seconded by Councillor Roscoe and following debate it was unanimously

RESOLVED:

Dog Poop -  A Public Health Hazard

This Council notes:

1.              Dog poop is a problem we deal with on a daily basis. But is it dangerous?

2.              Pet waste is a dangerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals and oil.

3.              Unscooped poop is carried by overland water flow or is washed into drains, ending up in faraway streams, rivers and ground water.

4.              Pet waste can spread parasites including hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms and Salmonella.  When infected dog poop comes into contact with your lawn, the poop will eventually "disappear", but the parasite eggs can linger for years!  When a human or animal comes into contact with that soil through everyday activities like walking barefoot, gardening or playing, they risk infection from those eggs ... even years after the poop is gone.

5.              Pet waste is teaming with E. Coli and other harmful bacteria including faecal coliform bacteria, which causes serious kidney disorders, intestinal illness, cramps and diarrhoea in humans. (There are 23 million faecal coliform bacteria in a single gram of pet waste!)

6.              Dog poop often contains roundworm larvae, which cause blindness. If a human ingests a roundworm larva, it can migrate through the body causing disease to the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, heart or eyes. So, when people (especially children and or pregnant women) touch soil, dog toys or anything that has been in contact with dog faeces and then touch their mouths, they can become infected.

The Council Believes: -

1.              Dog poop on our streets is a constant complaint that we receive from residents.

2.              As a Council we are actively promoting the correct disposal of pet poop by the installation of bins in parks, public space protection orders and dog wardens.

3.              The majority of Sefton dog owners are responsible owners and dispose of their doggy deposits in the correct manner. 

4.              However, the owners who do not clean up after their pooches may not be aware of the dangers they are creating for our children, pregnant women and vulnerable citizens.

 I call upon this Council to support this motion and resolve that we:

1.              Engage with schools, colleges, GP surgeries, pharmacies, community groups and voluntary organisations to create an educational programme of the dangers of undisposed of pet poop.

2.              Work with Public Health to create a public campaign throughout Sefton to stamp out this behaviour.

3.              Highlight the environmental damage, dog poop and also doggy wipes cause our community.

4.              Finally, given the dangers this causes to humans, the courts should impose the maximum fines at all times.

Dog poop doesn't just "wash away" or disappear.

So, if you're not disposing of your dog's waste, you're putting yourself, your family,

your dog, your community, your environment and your water supply at risk.

NO EXCUSE, CLEAN UP THE POOP!