Concern about unmuzzled dogs after experience on local greenway

A Westmeath county councillor has admitted to having been left in fear twice on a local greenway after on one occasion being attacked by a dog – and more recently, encountering an unmuzzled German Shepherd dog off his leash.

Cllr Emily Wallace, speaking at the April meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, said that in November she was on her own on the greenway when she met a man who had two dogs on a lead, one of which attacked her.

“I was very lucky because I had a heavy winter jacket on,” she said, adding that she walked away without injury on that occasion.

Left reeling, she admitted saying to herself after the incident, ‘what just happened?’ – but at the same time she did not want to approach the man and say ‘your dog should be muzzled’.

Cllr Wallace said that just the previous Wednesday there was another incident in which she met a man on the greenway at 9.30am with an unmuzzled German Shepherd dog.

She did not feel safe and she also felt afraid to tell the man that he should have the dog in a muzzle.

Cllr Wallace was speaking on her motion, suggesting that signage with QR codes should be erected along the greenways, including the Old Rail Trail and all public amenities under the control of Westmeath County Council, informing the public of the requirement to keep their dogs under control and giving information on the types of dogs that are required to be muzzled at all times when out in public.

The written response from the municipal district stated that its environment section would be happy to engage and assist with the provision of further signage and will work with the district staff to agree the required content and locations. They are also prepared to look into the use of QR codes.

The response concluded by stating that the county council is engaging with the current Responsible Dog Ownership campaign.

Cllr Wallace said she met a lady out with three children on scooters and was concerned that if they had encountered the dog, there could have been a further incident.

She said the dog will do what’s in its nature, which is to protect its owner, but not muzzled or not on a lead, the implications and the repercussions can be immense.

More dogs

Cllr Wallace went on to say that she had noticed, particularly in the last 18 months, the number of people out walking their dogs on the canal greenway and the Old Rail Trail had grown substantially.

“I don’t know whether that’s because of the amount of dog ownership through Covid and people realising the accessibility now, or whether it is the growing population,” she said, adding that in some cases she felt there is a language barrier.

Because the signs tend to be in English or Irish, she was proposing use of a QR code to provide a link to the information in other languages.

The mayor of the municipal district, Cllr Ken Glynn, seconded Cllr Wallace’s motion.

He said: “You’re spot on in what you’re saying,” he said. “It’s a regular occurrence; it’s going on for years; it’s not just today or yesterday.”

He said that the reality is that there is a responsibility on the owners of dogs and asked about the possibility of the dog wardens being present on occasion to police the issue.

He said where there are bye-laws in place there has to be enforcement.

Cllr David Jones agreed with that stance and felt it would be helpful if the wardens were seen walking on the canals and greenways in plain clothes.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly said that it would not be possible for the dog warden to do their work in plain clothes: it was necessary for the warden to wear a uniform and to have their name on it and to be able to show they were an authorised officer in order for the enforcement to work. She reminded members that the council is about to employ two dog wardens.

She agreed that the use of QR codes should be explored.