Calls for new rules to police the dumping of dog faeces on farms

The issue was raised at a Cappmore-Kilmallock Municipal District meeting during a motion put forward by Cllr Ger Mitchell, who called for “new fit-for-purpose legislation to be introduced and enacted relating to dogs entering on lands which may cause injury to persons or animals, to prevent distress to farmers, owners and their animals”.

“This legislation should include the appointment of sufficient dog wardens to monitor, enforce and follow up on reports,” he said.

Cllr Mitchell said there are those out there who expect Tidy Towns people to pick up dog litter. “These are voluntary people. The people with the dogs should be picking it up themselves,” he said.

Cllr Brigid Teefy said dog litter is being left in playgrounds and on sports fields and footpaths.

Cathaoirleach John Egan said some people are picking up their dog’s “business” on the walking route from Holycross to Bruff and “throwing it out on the farmers’ land bounding it”.

​Cllr Eddie Ryan said he has received similar complaints: “They are picking it up, but where does it go — only out over the farmer’s ditch.”

Dog faeces left on fields could expose cows to a parasitic infection (neospara) that may result in early abortions or damage the health of calves.

There is growing evidence of the links between two specific diseases in livestock and the presence on grazing land of faeces from infected dogs.

Neosporosis is thought to be responsible for the highest percentage of all cattle abortions reported in the UK.

Sarcocystosis is also caused by a parasite, which uses a number of intermediate hosts, including dogs, and can cause neurological disease and death in sheep.

Even without symptoms, the presence of sarcocysts on a carcass following slaughter can result in the carcass being condemned.