Primary school children in the Shankill have had their outdoor classes cancelled because of the amount of dog mess on their streets.
P3 teacher Lynne Winstone said her pupils have been left upset and frustrated that one of their favourite classes now has to be taught indoors using Google Maps instead of walking in their own community.
DUP Councillor Nicola Verner is helping her tackle the situation which she says is “utterly unacceptable” and the result of dog owners failing to take responsibility for their pets.
Lynne, herself a dog owner, says the issue of dog mess within the community has grown so bad that it is having a detrimental effect on many aspects of life, including her House and Home Walk classes.
She explained: “The outdoor lessons are for my P3 class and involve taking the children for a walk around their own community, to one street in particular where they can identify all types of homes from multi-story buildings to bungalows.
"It's an exercise which involves many different areas of learning, it helps the children get out in their community safely, it helps them familiarise themselves with life outside of school and it helps with lessons at their desk. We point out our own homes and we get to know each other’s homes. It’s a useful, educational and enjoyable class.
“But in recent weeks we’ve had to call a halt to the House and Home Walk classes because of the amount of dog poo that we're encountering in the community.
“Children are literally walking through it and carrying it back into the classroom on their shoes, we have quite a job making sure the children stay clean, their shoes are cleaned and they’re safe from any potential health issues that could arise.
“We had to stop the outdoor classes and try to replicate them indoors using Google Maps but it's just not the same. It’s a sad day when P3 pupils are told they can’t walk their own streets because of the risk of walking in dog mess. They're disappointed and frustrated and they told me so.
“The problem has increased in recent years and months. It is a disgrace. I have a dog myself, I clean up after her and don’t ask anyone else to do that for me, she’s my dog so it’s my responsibility and my job.
“It’s obvious from the evidence right on our footpaths that people are not picking up after their dog while they’re out walking, and there are others who just let their dog out of the house on its own with no supervision and therefore no one to ensure what the dog leaves behind is cleaned up.
“This is not just a minor issue that crops up now and again, here and there. It’s so bad that it’s literally walked all over some areas of pavement. One mum of an older pupil told me that her 15 minute walk to school takes at least 20 minutes just to avoid stepping in dog mess.
“We are trying to teach our pupils about the fantastic area they live in, the good neighbourhood and great neighbours they have, but they see what’s going on and at six and seven years old they know it’s wrong.”
Now Lynne and Nicola Verner, who has two large dogs, have joined forces to try to change the habit that is creating filth in the community.
The DUP Councillor says the issue had now got out of hand and revealed that the council cleaned up 32 dog poos in one street alone.
She explained: “The council lifted 32 incident of dog fouling in Mayo Street and Link and beside a nursery school. If you walk your dog along here and don’t lift the poo you are a complete disgrace.
"It’s disgusting and so disrespectful in our community. Thanks again to the cleaning team who have cleared it once again - it should never be like this. We have people of all ages walking through dog poo, getting on their shoes, accidentally walking it into their homes and into shops.
“We have wheelchair, prams and buggies getting dog mess on their wheels. We have children walking it into the classroom.
“We have had a dog warden verbally abused in the street for lifting a dog which was roaming freely and messing on the footpath and at risk of causing a traffic accident potential harm to children or another dog. Letting dogs roam freely is unacceptable, and abuse of wardens is unacceptable too.
“I have repeatedly reported this issue and asked council to clean it but we’re fighting a losing battle if our community doesn’t start to take control.
“It’s hard to find anyone who would disagree that it’s unacceptable to let your dog foul and not lift it, to drop litter in the street or to dump your household rubbish in an entry or waste ground.
“Yet it is happening right before our eyes. I’m proud of our community and proud to be from the Shankill but those who do this are disrespectful and need to be called out.
“Belfast City Council has sent the FIDO cleaning machine into the area to clean up so-called hot-spot areas and have committed to work their way round the area over a two week period.
“The dog warden service has been out to push enforcement, again they have focused on the highlighted hot spots to try and catch offender owners. It’s an on the spot £80 fine if caught, and we have discussed the reporting of repeat offenders.
"If someone lets their dog foul outside your house and doesn't remove it, you can phone 02890270431 and give a description of the person, type of dog and approximate times they walk their dog. Dog wardens will deliberately patrol at this place and time to try and catch the offender.
“I have a supply of BCC dog poo bags if anyone needs some and Harmony Primary School has also been given a supply to help parents who are walking their children to school while bringing their dogs too, so they have easy access to poo bags if necessary.
“I believe a responsible dog owner won’t mind walking a wee bit to find a bin for their poo bag, myself and my colleague Brian Kingston have had additional bins installed along Woodvale Road, Twaddell and Glencairn.
“There really is no excuse not to lift up after your pet, bag it and bin it. We will help everyone we can, but we will report anyone we need to too. This has to stop.
"We have a fantastic community and we should be proud of it - and that means keeping it clean, usable and safe, and that means an end to dog fouling.”
