[Matt in IT]

Originally Posted by nungesser

sounds typical of these times, give them more work to do and they probably don't get paid any extra, we really missed the boat with the parking thing, cause it only pays for itself, were as if they could secure a better rate for the enforcement services any profit could be put back into the town, for example funds for bringing back the summer festival or building a playground, ect..

The money comes from the machines not the fines. They only dish out a couple of tickets a day.
They're really just making sure we cough up.

So its a no brainer to have them do something else that really benefits the community.
It can only be a good thing if as they police parking they reduce the amount if dog muck and litter. who loses?
I'd be all for bonuses for cleanup fines.

[cuddlycavies]

Originally Posted by Mr Diamond

Ouch. I'm afraid there's a bit of 'This is your problem, not mine,' going on here.
I love my Dog. You love your Dog. But not everyone loves our Dogs and frankly, you can't expect them to. You have a responsibility...nobody else.

Biodegrade? Tell that to a Kid digging sandcastles?

You are a totalminority in this town. Mosy of them are totally irresponsible. We need draconian legislation now. Everyone else who doesn't keep dogs are sick of you all.

[conlof]

I'm getting the impression that non-dog people are getting sick of dog peoples complete disregard for others and dog people are completely oblivious of the fact that the rest of us would be a lot happier if they stayed off the beach and kept their dogs on leashes. And they picked up the crap as well. How about the dog people, when out for a walk, picked up all the s*** they saw on the ground. Just a thought.
BTW the sign says on a leash or under owners control.

[Taltos]

Originally Posted by conlof

I'm getting the impression that non-dog people are getting sick of dog peoples complete disregard for others and dog people are completely oblivious of the fact that the rest of us would be a lot happier if they stayed off the beach and kept their dogs on leashes. And they picked up the crap as well. How about the dog people, when out for a walk, picked up all the s*** they saw on the ground. Just a thought.

You lost me on that one.
Keep dogs off the beach - this had better not be a serious suggestion.
"How about the dog people, when out for a walk, picked up all the s*** they saw on the ground. " - how about you pick it up. It is one thing to clean up after your own dog - you have a connection and a responsibility there. If you want to play that card then my immediate response is all people in this community have a civic responsibility to clean up any mess they see - dog crap or otherwise.

If this is turning into one of those "Us and them" / "dog walkers and just walkers" then this thread is past it's sell by date.
Irrespective of having a dog or not - the nub of the issue is a minority refuses to clean up after themselves and they need to be held to account for this. End of.

Bringing in leash laws / beach bans as elsewhere is a non-runner and for the first time in my life I will become criminalised and gladly so if we were to go that route. Look - if you see someone not cleaning up after their dogs foul - call them on it - take a photo - anything - just make it clear that their antisocial behaviour is not welcome in our town or on our beaches.

[RosieJoe]

Originally Posted by Taltos

You lost me on that one.
Keep dogs off the beach - this had better not be a serious suggestion.
"How about the dog people, when out for a walk, picked up all the s*** they saw on the ground. " - how about you pick it up. It is one thing to clean up after your own dog - you have a connection and a responsibility there. If you want to play that card then my immediate response is all people in this community have a civic responsibility to clean up any mess they see - dog crap or otherwise.

If this is turning into one of those "Us and them" / "dog walkers and just walkers" then this thread is past it's sell by date.
Irrespective of having a dog or not - the nub of the issue is a minority refuses to clean up after themselves and they need to be held to account for this. End of.

Bringing in leash laws / beach bans as elsewhere is a non-runner and for the first time in my life I will become criminalised and gladly so if we were to go that route. Look - if you see someone not cleaning up after their dogs foul - call them on it - take a photo - anything - just make it clear that their antisocial behaviour is not welcome in our town or on our beaches.

We could also expand the thread to be
Smokers and Non Smokers - Why should I have to put up with people throwing butts on the ground.
Litterbugs and Non Litterbugs - Why should I have to put up with filth from people too lazy to use a bin.

I think the thread descended into a "lets pick on dog owners" where as the OP asked for suggestions in general in what else we can get the Wardens to do.

[recedite]

Originally Posted by matt-dublin

it will biodegrade but will take weeks and weeks to do so...whats not to say that a kid comes along the same day diges a hole in the sand and gets to play with a warm piece of poo???

disguisting

OK, even if the kid dug deep enough, the odds are 250,000 to 1, based on 1.25km x50m beach and 4 holes to the square metre. But just walking around barefoot, you are in contact with bird droppings, rotting seaweed, stinky decomposing crabs, and the millions of crawling sandhoppers that feed on all the above. The point is; the beach was never going to be a sterile place. If you want sterile, look to the swimming pool.

Originally Posted by conlof

the fact that the rest of us would be a lot happier if they stayed off the beach and kept their dogs on leashes.

You are entitled to your own personal space as a dog free zone, which IMO is a few metres around you, but you are not entitled to "wave off" any dog you see running on the beach without a leash.
Suppose I felt menaced by groups of teenagers wearing hoodies. I should be able to walk the beach without being contacted or hassled by them, but I can't ban them from the beach. I would have to just "get a handle on" my own prejudices.
If I see any dog crap on the beach, I bury it out of harms way. I'll bet most of the indignant posters on this thread would just walk past and leave it for some kid to walk in.
IMO the worst hazard for kids on the South Beach is broken glass, which is why I often have some in my pocket when the dog and I go home.

[mirekb]

Originally Posted by conlof

I'm getting the impression that non-dog people are getting sick of dog peoples complete disregard for others and dog people are completely oblivious of the fact that the rest of us would be a lot happier if they stayed off the beach and kept their dogs on leashes. And they picked up the crap as well. How about the dog people, when out for a walk, picked up all the s*** they saw on the ground. Just a thought.
BTW the sign says on a leash or under owners control.

It's not fair to tar all us dog owners with the same brush. I don't mind the new ruling that sys we must keep off the blue flag bit of the beach during the summer, I have kids and HATE the dog poo everywhere. I always pick up after my two but saying I should pick up other's is as ridiculous as saying that all you drivers should pay when someone else drink drives..

The issue of the mess on the beach needs to be dealt with though, for me the broken glass everywhere is more of an issue. It's especially bad when walking south along the beach (as we always do because of the dogs)

Is there anything we, as a community, can do about it? I've seen other beaches being dug over, could we do that here?

[matt-dublin]

the difference recedite is even though we may be walking around barefoot on the beach, the majority of us don't have the ability to put our foot in our mouths like a small child might be able to.

I don't agree that dogs should be banned, i do however think that dog owners should clean up after their pets.

don't get me wrong, i am an avid lover of dogs, and if i wasn't living in an apartment i would have one possibly two, but i'd be damn sure not to be so bloody laxy as to bury my dogs feces on the beach but put them in the sh1t bins provided.

I also agree with mirekb on the rest of the litter and the bottles, but just because someone else is leaving a mess behind them doesn't give you a free pass to do the same.

At the end of the day, pick up your dogs sh1te, clean up your own mess. If everyone does there piece the beach will be a better place (end of tree hugging rant!)

[mirekb]

Originally Posted by matt-dublin

At the end of the day, pick up your dogs sh1te, clean up your own mess. If everyone does there piece the beach will be a better place (end of tree hugging rant!)

Totally agree with this! - but it's not happening, so can we do something? Do you think people would come down if we organised a clean up?

[matt-dublin]

Maybe, you should speak to the town council and see about getting involved in the tidy towns committee / cleanup crew.

they quite often do a big cleanup around the year at various times.

[mirekb]

Thanks, will do! I wonder what can be done long term to resolve the issue, any ideas?

[Matt in IT]

This isn't a complicated post.

I like dogs. I couldn't eat a whole one.
I like dog owners --- " ---

With one exception on this thread we are not OK with crap being left on the ground. Especially where kids play.

So the biggest issue for safety in my mind is the beach. So it's a good place to concentrate. They only have to make a change in perception. The same way most people don't think it's OK to smoke in a restaurant.

So a great solution will be for the town wardens to fine owners when they fail to collect the poo. They've got cameras for the cars. They'll work on dogs too.

[cuddlycavies]

How about?1. All dogs need a licence and to get a licence your dog is chipped for a start. 2. Chip gives owners details and can be read by a simple scanner.
3. Wardens scan any dog on the loose , pooing where the owner is not cleaning up, owner is not carrying a bag displayed around the lead. 4. €200 fine sent to owners address.
That will sort the whole thing out quickly.

[RosieJoe]

Originally Posted by cuddlycavies

How about?1. All dogs need a licence and to get a licence your dog is chipped for a start. 2. Chip gives owners details and can be read by a simple scanner.
3. Wardens scan any dog on the loose , pooing where the owner is not cleaning up, owner is not carrying a bag displayed around the lead. 4. €200 fine sent to owners address.
That will sort the whole thing out quickly.

Never that simple though. For example
1. All cars need a registration plate
2. Plate gives owners details and can be looked up easily by the Warden
3. Wardesees someone driving along, sees them throwing rubbish out the window.
4. Fine sent to owner by post.

Very rarely happens

[cuddlycavies]

Originally Posted by RosieJoe

Never that simple though. For example
1. All cars need a registration plate
2. Plate gives owners details and can be looked up easily by the Warden
3. Wardesees someone driving along, sees them throwing rubbish out the window.
4. Fine sent to owner by post.

Very rarely happens

Have seen fines for throwing fags out window coming through. If not paid, further penalty, then court. No reason why this should be too hard. No reason at all.