By Joseph Chaplin
Dog owners will have no excuse for not cleaning up after their pets, should Limerick City and County Council’s novel approach to raising awareness prove a success. The council has installed two programmable audio systems, developed by NUI Maynooth company, Riteview Solutions, on either side of the Shannon in Limerick City.
Dog walkers who pass the devices on the City Boardwalk will trigger the audio, imploring them to clean up after their
pets with the message: ”Do your bit to keep Limerick clean. Stop Limerick Dog Litter. Use Any bag any bin – please pick up after your dog.”
The new and inventive campaign has been met warmly by Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Kathleen Leddin, who weighed in on the issue of dog foul in the city: “It is wonderful to see the bond between a dog and its owner. Dogs are such wonderful companions but unfortunately they cannot clean up after themselves. It really is important for dog owners to continue to become more responsible and to pick up their dogs litter considering dog waste is not only a nuisance but can also carry diseases which can be harmful to humans. I would urge dog owners to dispose of such litter in the nearest litter bin or dog fouling bin.”
Aidan McDermott, of Riteview Solutions explained that the audio devices grew from an experiment, examining how their technology can be integrated into environmental awareness programmes. The project has since been met with approval by environmental organisations such as Limerick’s Tidy Towns Committee, who work to keep Limerick clean.
Speaking on the topic, spokespeople for Tidy Towns also explained that cleaning up after your pet is an easy task, and provided people with simple tips on making sure they aren’t responsible for a poor environment.
via Anti-Dog Foul Message Won’t Fall On Deaf Ears | Limerick Post Newswrite.
