Dog owners are urged once again to clean up after pets

Dog owners are urged once again to clean up after pets

8 October 2025

A FRESH appeal has been issued to dog owners to clean up after their pets.

It comes as Newry, Mourne and Down Council has been urged to erect signs at the Marguerite area in Newcastle where persistent dog fouling has become a major issue.

Mournes councillor, Laura Devlin, has appealed for the signs to be erected and for dog owners to always clean up after their pets and not allow animal waste to litter public places, posing a threat to young children in particular.

She said dog fouling is a district-wide issue.

Cllr Devlin said while only a small number of irresponsible dog owners do not clean up after their pets, the small number are having a huge impact on the local environment. 

“Dog waste is not just unsightly, it poses health risks such as the transmission of harmful bacteria and parasites that can affect both humans and animals,” she said. “It also pollutes the environment and detracts from the beauty of neighbourhoods. 

“I speak to parents pushing prams, runners and walkers every day.  All of whom are sick of cleaning dog dirt from shoes and the wheels of prams.”

Cllr Devlin added: “I again appeal to dog owners to carry bags and dispose of the waste properly.”