IN any civilised society, the owner of a pet would promptly pick up its poop.

That’s the message that public representatives say they are desperately trying to get across to dog owners in West Cork.

The issue came up for discussion after the local authority’s environment director, Ger Barry, presented a report to members of the Western Division.

Local politicians, like Cllr Daniel Sexton (Ind Ire), said what is frustrating is that owners pick up the waste in plastic bags but then throw the bags into bushes, flowerbeds, and onto footpaths.

‘If you have a dog, you are responsible for that dog. Picking it up and putting it in a bag is the hard part. Taking it home, or putting it in the bins provided, shouldn’t be too difficult,’ he added.

Cllr John Michael Foley (FG) was similarly exercised about this issue.

‘People need to cop on. The whole idea of the bag is to take it home with you.’

Cllr Isobel Towse (SD) said Tidy Towns committees have requested the removal of dog bag dispensers, but she argued that more, not less, needs to be done to address the problem.

She suggested providing more bins for this type of waste. The Social Democrat councillor also asked if the litter warden and the dog warden would patrol the Western Road in Clonakilty because the area is particularly bad.

Tidy Towns groups have repeatedly raised the issue of dog fouling which is particularly bad in the summer months.

Busy coastal tourist spots including Baltimore are plagued by the problem at the height of the summer season.