Dog poo warden being considered in Manx area

1 hour ago

Josh Cann

News image — Garff comissioner and local cafe owner Julie Pinson

BBC Julie Pinson, wearing a teal cardigan and white shirt, stands in front of Laxey Beach Cafe. In the background you can see a large plastic ice cream, and a swirling garden tree. — Garff comissioner and local cafe owner Julie Pinson

Concerns over rogue fouling could see a 'dog poo warden' brought in to tackle the ongoing issue in Garff.

Julie Pinson, Garff commissioner and local cafe owner in Laxey, is considering trialling a 'dog poo warden' to implement the by-laws that exist in the area, after concern from residents.

"We do have a lot of responsible dog owners, but it's the irresponsible ones that leave their dog waste for our residents and visitors to tread in," says Pinson.

"In the cafe, we have had upset children come in who have trodden in dog-poo, it's not very nice for the children, nor the parents."

'There's no such thing as the dog poo fairy' a sign reads on a post on Laxey beach front. It's accompanied with an image of a fairy flying holding a dog poo bag. — A sign on Laxey beach front

'We have looked at the matter quite seriously'

Garff commissioners have introduced dog by-laws. Dogs are not allowed on part of the nearby Laxey beach, between 10 am and 6 pm during the summer months, and not picking up after your dog is an offence.

"We've got to now look at how we enforce the by-law," says Pinson.

One of the options is a dog-warden, but commissioners are considering other options, 'it's all dependent on our budget,' Pinson adds.

"We do understand there are a lot of responsible dog owners, we don't want to stop anybody from enjoying the facilities of the Garff, we just want them to act responsibly.

"It's more of a concern among our residents than you would think, and if it's something our residents are concerned about, then we have to deal with the issue.

"We recognise the social and medical aspects of owning a dog, and it's great for individuals' health, but ownership has to be done responsibly, and that's what we want to encourage."