Audio dog fouling warnings are working

Referred to as ‘talking lamp posts’, new audio devices barking encouraging words at dog walkers to pick up after their pets have resulted in a 64% reduction of dog fouling along the Old Rail Trail in Moate.

Similar encouraging figures showed that dog fouling dropped by 62% in Mullingar, and 72% in Athlone, where the talking device was located.

The project has been rolled out over 12 months along the Canal in Mullingar, Harbour Street near Presentation school, Tyrrellspass bring banks, Killucan and Rathwire on the walk between the villages, in Fore, Multyfarnham and Castlepollard on the Pakenham Hall Road and to Tesco.

Aidan McDermott of Riteview Solutions revealed the figures at a meeting of the Environment, Water and Emergency Services SPC on Friday.

He said the dog fouling and litter audio device was originally devised for the Environmental Protection Agency when CCTV technology was expensive.

“The alternative was the audio device, initially designed for bottle banks as preventative measure for littering,” he said. “It ended up being used more for dog fouling.”

Typically mounted on lamp posts, its sensor detects people walking past and it works in daylight hours. The device is battery operated and powered by solar panels.

In Westmeath, four such units were used: two in the Athlone area and two in the Mullingar area; they rotate between locations every three months.

Litter analysis is also being carried out on a bring bank in Tyrrellspass.

The most recent monitoring on the Old Rail Trail in Moate showed paw-fall figures analysis and dog foul trends. CCTV footage of the area was monitored for a week ahead of the installation of the device to determine black spot areas.

The findings showed that in the first week 169 dogs walked that route, 20% of people walking the route owned a dog, and the average was 24 dogs a day. Peak walking times were 7-8pm.

Mr McDermott said the main aim was that it created awareness about the issue and started a conversation in the community, leading to a change in behaviour.

“It gets people into the position of thinking about bringing a doggy bag to clean up after their dogs,” said Mr McDermott. “It’s a preventative measure, and a positive reinforcement message.”

Cllr Michael O’Brien said: “You could see the improvement, it was definitely worthwhile... But since its removal the Lake Road is bad again.

“Littering is at an epidemic level across every road on the county, it’s sickening. If you had a device like that on a rural road it might make a difference.”

Policing and enforcement

He argued that unless there is policing and enforcement, “we’ll never get anywhere”.

“I’m five years here and I’ve been raising this over and over, it’s demoralising. If litter wardens were only out once or twice a month, and only a couple of people were fined, it would act as a deterrent,” he said.

The independent councillor said there were growing issues with anti-social behaviour at the Station House on the Old Rail Trail, and a huge problem with graffiti there.

Cllr Paddy Hill said illegal dumping was a major problem and technology had a role in helping to curb it.

“Recently there was quite a lot of dumping in the area I’m from. Some evidence was found as to where it came from. It’s hard to believe, but the evidence relates to a company in Tipperary. They came a long way to dump in Finea.”

Cllr Johnnie Penrose questioned whether enough bins had been provided on the greenway.

“Anything that makes people aware of what they’re doing is important,” he said. “Coming in the motorway from Kilbeggan, several black bags were dumped on the main road – people have no regard for anything.

“The government need to bring in some law that allows people to be prosecuted and named and shamed,” Cllr Penrose argued.

Cllr Frank McDermott said the results were encouraging.

“While out canvassing in the last few weeks, there seems to be a huge increase in the dog population and they seem to be well fed, there’s bowls of food everywhere!” he mused.

“It definitely does work and I would like to see more of them.

“The bring banks in Castlepollard seem to be the most offended and we should use CCTV and maybe these audio devices.”

“Castlepollard should adopt a non-plastic bag town as a pilot and see how it works.”

Cllr Paul Hogan also supported of the technology.

“We previously rolled out CCTV, drones, and now this. And a 64% reduction in Moate, 72% reduction in Athlone, and a 63% reduction in Mullingar is all encouraging.

“It generates awareness but there’s the whole wider issue of education and culture. “There were certainly improvements.

Director of services Martin Murray said the idea was to look at a range of methodologies that can help and this is one. There is clear evidence that educating children through Green-Schools is another way of influencing their behaviour and that of their parents.“Active relationships with community groups that they will take an active lead in self-patrolling their areas,” is necessary, he said.

“We have financial resources to continue this until the end of the year and we will liaise with members on where we will see the best results.

“It is all about creating awareness, sending out the right message, using the message to educate.”