Council dismay at "stick and flick" plan to deal with dog fouling!

Members of Athlone Municipal District reacted with dismay at their meeting on Monday of this week to a novel proposal aimed at dealing with dog fouling euphemistically referred to as “stick and flick.”

During a debate on the Draft Litter Management Plan, Senior Executive Engineer with Westmeath County Council, Ciaran Jordan, asked Councillors to consider the possibility of introducing a “stick and flick” policy in relation to dog fouling on greenways and canal lines.

In attempting to explain this policy, which he said is “widely used in the UK” Mr. Jordan said it would consist of dog walkers carrying a stick at all times and “flicking” their dog faeces into a nearby ditch with their stick. He said this would eliminate the practice of people carrying dog foul in a bag for long distances and disposing of the bag in a ditch “which creates an ever bigger litter problem.”

Mr. Jordan pointed out that he was not advocating that the Council adopt the “stick and flick” policy, but he said it was “worth considering.”

The meeting heard that dog fouling is still one of the biggest challenges facing the Athlone Municipal District in attempting to get to grips with the litter problem. There was widesread praise for the dog fouling bag dispensers which were introduced in Moate over recent months and which were hailed as “a tremendous success” by Cllr Michael O' Brien and other Councillors.

Cllr John Dolan said he was “absolutely amazed” at the stick and flick proposal and declared that “instead of stick and flick we should name and shame, because that's the only approach that works with these people.”

The newly-elected Mayor of Athlone Municipal District, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke said he would not be in favour of a stick and flick policy. “It certainly wouldn't be something I would be willing to consider anyway, and I hope we don't spend too long considering it in this Chamber either” he said.

Ciaran Jordan said the “stick and flick” approach is just one of the measures being put forward in an effort to encourage people to clean up after their dogs, but it is up to the members to either accept or reject any of the proposals in the draft litter plan.

One of the other measures put forward in relation to dog fouling is the use of loud audio device systems to remind dog owners to clean up, and it is also proposed that the Council liaise with vets and pet shops to remind dog owners of their responsibilities to prevent dog fouling.