Talking lampposts remind Irish dog owners to clean-up after their pet

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County’s initiative complements the Green Dog Walker environmental awareness programme

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County residents, who take their dogs out for a regular walk, are in for a surprise. Chances are that they may be reminded, in a polite manner, to clean-up after their pet not by another passer-by, but by a…lamppost.

As Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown authorities have announced, such ‘talking lamp-posts’ are now installed in popular dog walking areas throughout the County.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council Shay Brennan said, quoted by the council's website:

“Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has many beautiful walks and it is lovely to see people enjoying them. This initiative is a preventative measure and is about educating the small minority of dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets. The overall philosophy of this campaign is to shift attitudes so that it becomes socially unacceptable to not clean-up after your dog.”

Look who’s talking

Detecting a person in close proximity, the self-contained audio device conveys a pre-recorded message about responsible dog ownership. The device can help reduce incidents of dog fouling litter by over 80%, according to DLR County councilors. The initial temporary locations for the devices are Ballyogan, Marlay Park, Killiney Hill, Glenageary and Seapoint, but they will be rotated throughout the County over the year.

The audio system is part of a holistic approach to raise awareness around responsible dog ownership and prevent dog fouling litter. This initiative complements a number of dog ownership awareness campaigns: the ongoing Green Dog Walkers programme, local radio, bin and cinema advertising, lamppost signage, education in schools and the Dog Warden’s enforcement patrols.

Green Dog Walkers scheme

The Green Dog Walkers scheme is a non-confrontational initiative to prevent dog fouling which invites local residents to spread the word and lead by example. The scheme asks dog owners to make the following pledges: clean up after their dog and politely remind other dog walkers to do the same; carry extra dog waste bags and be ready to lend one to those without.  

Anyone can take the pledge to be a Green Dog Walker by signing the Green Dog Walkers Form and returning it to the Council. Registration forms can be obtained directly from www.dlrcoco.ie or by calling 01-2054700.

The scheme is also available to local residents’ associations, community groups and Tidy Towns/Tidy Districts committees.