Green Dog Walkers Programme Launch

The Green Dog Walkers programme was launched by Mayor Cathal King in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght on the 30th April. Present to help with the launch were memebers of the DSPCA, the Kennel Club, the Council’s Dog wardens and local resident dog owner Sharon Murphy.

Green Dog Walkers (GDW) is a regional programme involving South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Meath County Council and Wicklow County Council.

It is a non-confrontational, friendly way to change attitudes about dog fouling in South Dublin County. Green Dog Walkers is a community based scheme that volunteers in the community can adopt in their own area and promote.

The Mayor Cathal King “I welcome this initiative and am delighted to officially launch the Green Dog Walkers programme in Sean Walsh. Dog fouling is a very serious health issue. Young children are particularly at risk. Dog owners should take responsibility for their dogs and make sure they clean up after the dog. The Green Dog Walkers programme is a great way to raise awareness of the way to look after your dog. I look forward to meeting lots of green dog walkers in the County.”

A spokesperson from Tallaght Hospital said “We welcome the launch of the Green Dog Walking Initiative. We support the objective to improve our local environment by the responsible management of dog fouling by dog owners. We believe this initiative will help enhance the wellbeing of our community by reducing the risk of infection posed by dog fouling."

Tony Kavanagh from Rathfarnham Tidy Towns was also present and said “Tidy Towns welcomes this programme as dog fouling is a real problem and a health risk”

Volunteers wear a Green Dog Walkers armbandwhich signifies that they have "taken the pledge" to always:

• clean up after their dog
• wear the armband or put the Green Dog Walkers collar on their dog when walking
• carry extra dog waste bags
• be happy to be approached to 'lend' a dog waste bag to those without
• be a friendly reminder to other dog walkers to clean up after their dogs

The green arm band acts asa friendly reminder to please pick up after your dog. All you have to do is sign a pledge form which can be got through www.socialcredits.ie then we will post you out a Green Dog Walker armband and a GDW bone dog bag dispenser.

You can also run a scheme in your area by adopting the Green Dog Walker programme for your area.

To adopt the Green Dog Walker you need to:

• be a constituted community group
• Administer the project eg distribution of materials, meeting mailing costs, etc.
• help with promotion of the campaign in your area
• run or take part as a volunteer in at least 3 pledge booths or GDW events annually
• help with the monitoring and evaluating of the campaign at a local level e.g. before and after surveys, participate in questionnaires sent and feedback on the number of armband wearers approached to ask for a dog bag etc.

Source: SDCC - Green Dog Walkers Programme Launch

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