No dog poo fairy in Cockburn: dog owners reminded to ‘bag it and bin it’ after ongoing community complaints
While dog owners in Cockburn have received a cheeky reminder from the council to go after their furry friends, other local councils are dealing with a statewide shortage of dog poo bags.
The City of Cockburn has installed three new signs in popular local parks stating that there is no dog poop fairy in Cockburn and encouraging residents to bag it and throw it away.
City of Cockburn service manager rangers and community safety Luke Scott said there was “no particular reason” for installing the signs, but it was a persistent problem of people not picking up the phone after their offspring.
“Dog poop left in parks continues to be one of the most common and ongoing complaints city rangers receive from local residents and even city employees,” he said.
“As much as we would love to have a fairy to help us accomplish some of life’s unpleasant tasks, the truth is that the onus is on dog owners to do the right thing.”
Around 15,000 dogs are registered in Cockburn, with access to around 400 parks and reserves.
Under state law, scavengers can be fined $200 for not following the dog. The City of Cockburn’s local dog laws allow fines of up to $100.
Mr Scott said the signs were concerning but the council would have to take further action if the problem was not resolved.
“We can call out violations, but we would rather partner with our community and provide education about the right thing to do for the health and safety of everyone, including our precious pet dogs, native wildlife and natural wetlands,” she said.
The city spends about $100,000 each year to provide compostable dog poop bags at local parks and beaches. Supplies are changed regularly by park staff and rangers.
Mr Scott said dog walkers could be “caught” without a bag but it was their responsibility to dispose of waste.
“If dog owners are caught, which they certainly could be, they can ask other dog owners in the area if they have spare bags to donate. If that option is not available, they can return with a bag to pick up the poop and then dispose of it in the bins provided,” he said.
“The idea is for dog owners to accept responsibility for the possibility that their dog will poop at least once during a walk in the park, and to keep a spare bag for those unavoidable occasions.”
Filled bags should then be disposed of in a red-lidded general waste bin, not left on the ground to allow it to biodegrade and expose the faeces to the surrounding environment.
Dog waste can carry harmful bacteria and parasites that can spread diseases and cause people, wildlife and other dogs to become seriously ill. It also reduces society’s enjoyment of public spaces.
Signs have been installed at Bibra Lake regional park, Coogee Beach reserve and Manning park.
This coincides with other local councils complaining about a Statewide shortage of dog poop bags linked to the ongoing fuel supply crisis.
Responding to public complaints about empty poop bag dispensers, the City of Kalamunda blamed global shipping delays for the problem. More bags were scheduled to arrive in March, but the city now expects to receive its order within three weeks.
In the meantime, he encouraged dog owners to bring their own bags on walks.
