Don't read this over breakfast

If you run the statistics, Kilcullen's canine pets are probably depositing up to 74,000 kilos of poo every year, writes Brian Byrne. And if you walk around the town, actual empirical evidence shows not all of it is disposed of properly by some doggy owners.

I'm one of those many regular walkers who go along much of the time with our heads down. Not because we don't want to interact with others, rather that we're trying not to interact our shoes and homes with the very high level of dog excrement we encounter on Kilcullen's footpaths.

This is not a rant against dog owners. I have family and friends who own and love their dogs. And who invariably do the right thing when their dogs do their business while being walked in public spaces. But there are, clearly and noxiously, some owners in our local community who don't seem to give a sh-t.

Sad thing is, there's not much we can do about it. There are fines for allowing your dog to foul a public place without picking up after them. Owners or dog handlers who do not dispose of dog faeces in a responsible way may receive an on-the-spot fine of €150. You can be prosecuted in the District Court with a maximum fine of €3,000, and €600 per day for continuing offences on summary conviction. 

But there's hardly any way of enforcing these. The task is part of the county Litter Warden job, of which there are two, I think, in the whole county of Kildare. A report last year by the NCBI on behalf of vision-impaired people noted that there were just 82 dog fouling fines issued across the whole country in 2022. 

Some 17 councils around Ireland handed out no dog foul fines at all in that year. Kildare was not amongst those, it seems, but whatever dog poo penalties were issued are not shown in KCC's Annual Report, presumably incorporated in the equally minuscule number of 340 Litter fines imposed across the county that year. (The Council subsequently reported that it had issued 10 dog foul fines in 2022.)

It would be interesting to know if there's any correlation between those who don't pick up after their dog and whether they have licences for them? Running the available statistics again suggests that in 2022, six in ten of the 495,000 dogs in the country were not licensed.

Meantime, all we can do in Kilcullen is appeal to everyone in charge of a dog in our public spaces to do what they should be doing.

In some councils in the UK, it is an offence not to be able to show that you have a 'poo bag' with you when walking your dog in a public space. Reckon the chances of getting that one in here are zero to ... well, seeing a Litter Warden issuing a fine in Kilcullen to someone not picking up after their dog?

I'm still keeping my head down on my walks.

NOTE: For those curious about the statistical analysis here, without actual figures on dogs ownership in Kilcullen I had to extrapolate from whatever national surveys and figures I could find. This work suggested around 28pc of households nationally have dogs. Which would be roughly 400 dogs in Kilcullen. A medium-sized dog poos about 185kg a year, hence the 74,000kg figure. However actually accurate that is for Kilcullen, I reckon it got your attention. Please pick up.

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K9 Kilcullen calling

Image: Edgar Daniel Hernández Cervantes via pexels.

An initiative to connect dog lovers living, loving dogs and walking in Kilcullen and environs is underway.  

Called the K9 club we will meet, walk, talk, chat and connect on a regular basis as we educate ourselves on all things canine, and love and learn with our pets.  

If you have an interest in joining up and getting involved in this brand new start-up initiative let’s chat more.  Our mission is to facilitate the socialisation of people and their dogs who live in Kilcullen and within a 10km radius of Kilcullen through regular meet-ups, activities and agilities.  

So if you are as barking mad as we are; if you are pretty pawful at puns; if you like to park & bark; call or text to show your expression of interest — Niamh 086 1758458.

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Chilled out in the catmint

If you're wondering what your precious black and white is up to this afternoon, it's having a grand old time in the catmint.

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Bridget Hayes Pet Care and Services open soon

I will be open for guests from July 2nd, writes Bridget Hayes. As a qualified, registered Veterinary Nurse, with a Diploma in the Management of Exotic animals, your pets will receive the best care. 

With eight years experience caring for all creatures big and small, in Dublin Zoo, I will have insurance in place once opened. Again, please contact me on: 085 7055857, email: hayesbridget1@gmail.com or through Facebook. 

A few photos above of how preparations are coming along. Once everything is up to standard, visitors are more than welcome to have a look, before booking.

READ: Bridget Hayes Pet Care and Services 

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Plea to keep dogs under control

Do you know where your dog is just now?

Dogs can be a danger to sheep during lambing season. Please be mindful of the whereabouts of your pet dog during this time.

Farmers have permission to shoot dogs if they are worrying the sheep.

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Gala Day for Kildare Animal Foundation 25th

The Kildare Animal Foundation will be celebrating 25 years of animal rescue with a Gala Open Day this Sunday, 14 July. The event begins at 1pm and all are welcome.

The Foundation was established in 1994 by Geraldine O'Hanlon, at a location on the outskirts of Kildare Town.

At any given time, the facility is catering for up to 100 animals, many of them injured, sick or having been abused.

The aims of the Foundation are to provide protection and health care for sick, injured, abused or neglected animals; to prevent cruelty and to provide a rescue service; to promote spaying and neutering; and to provide education on animal welfare.

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Wag and Bone Dog Show upcoming

This year’s KWWSPCA Annual Wag and Bone Dog Show will take place in the Parade Ring of Punchestown Racecourse on Sunday, 2 September, starting at 2pm.

Every type of dog is welcome, especially rescue dogs. It is a fun show but can be quite competitive!

Categories include the Handsomest Male Dog, the Fanciest Female Dog, Child Handler with their Dog, the Dog with the Waggiest Tail, Veteran Dog (over eight years old), Veteran Dog Owner and Their Dog, Fancy Dress (Dog and Handler) as well as classes for Rescue Dogs.

All welcome.


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Have you a home for Zola?

Zola is a stunning dog and we would like to find her a home as she has been in our care since the end of April, writes Sally McCaffrey of the Kildare West Wicklow SPCA. She is about two years old and we think she is a labrador crossed with either a bull dog or a mastiff.

She is a delightful dog who absolutely loves to play and loves the company of other dogs, and because of this we think it would be important that she goes to a home where she will have a doggy companion who also enjoys playing. She does not like to be left alone.

She is very friendly and affectionate towards humans. She loves her walks and is good on the lead. Because she is quite a big dog she would be best going to a home without small children. We also feel that she needs an owner who is experienced with large dogs and would be willing to give her the exercise and mental stimulation that she requires. She needs a firm owner, but one who will also give her lots of affection.

Whoever adopts her will be rewarded with a superbly loyal and loving dog. She has been neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. She is living at the KWWSPCA Animal Shelter if you would like to meet her. The Shelter is open every day, apart from Sundays, from 2pm-4pm, or at other times by appointment.

We ask for a minimum donation of €130 when we rehome a dog to partly offset veterinary fees and other costs. A dog licence and a collar tag are required to complete the adoption and a home visit will be made.

If you're interested, please contact 087 1279835.

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Animal rescue organisation has dedicated TNR unit

The Kildare West Wicklow SPCA now has a dedicated service to trap, neuter and then release wild and semi-wild cats, to help reduce the population of wild felines, writes Brian Byrne.

The organisations TNR group is headed by Shirley and Elaine, formerly of the Community Cat Carers TNR group.

Any individual or community group with a feral cat problem can contact them at 085 1000783 or 085 7598461 or through their Facebook page.

KWWSPCA requests a donation towards the veterinary costs of getting these cats neutered as their funds are limited and they cannot cover the full cost of the procedure.

Shirley and Elaine also have a number of kittens in their care that are ready for adoption.

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Open Day at Animals First

The Animals First Veterinary Hospital service is holding an Open Day on 7 May, writes Brian Byrne.

The event will run between 2pm-5pm and and includes activities for children, talks from a dog behaviourist, advice on the care of pets, and a tour of the clinic.

There will also be a barbecue through the afternoon. The clinic is located at the Link Business Park on the road to Naas just outside Kilcullen.

All welcome.

Walk to help the huskies

The Dublin Husky Rescue organisation, which has been based on the Curragh area for the last two years, urgently needs funds for veterinary fees, writes Brian Byrne.

The Rescue is seriously under pressure as many huskies are being dumped, and the organisation also needs food, black bags, bedding and items such as old duvets.

A ‘Virtual Walk’ to raise the funds for veterinary fees is under way at the moment, running up until 19 March. Up to that time, anyone who wants to help can register for €20 with Megan on the Dublin Husky Rescue Facebook page, and notify her again when they have done a 5K walk or run for the cause.

A medal and certificate will be posted to every completed participant and they will also be entered into a draw to win a €50 Maxi Zoo Voucher.

Dublin Husky Rescue can also be contacted on 085 7619031.

(Note: Our picture from the DHR Facebook page shows how beautiful huskies are when loved and cared for.)

Thank you to Animals First

Your editor found a dead cat on the road outside his home this morning, obviously hit by a car during the night, writes Brian Byrne.

Initially at a loss what to do, we decided to bring the cat to Animals First Veterinary Hospital in the Link Park, on the basis that they might have disposal facilities.

As indeed they have. Veterinarian Conor McMahon was pleased that the animal had been brought in, and they dispose of them without charge.

"We have an arrangement with the pet crematorium, so they get a proper burial," he said. "We really like to encourage people to bring in animals they have found like this, otherwise the vermin just get them."

He emphasised that there's no charge. "Though we might have to reconsider that if someone brought in a dead deer," he clarified after a moment of thought.

Many thanks, Conor.

Wandering dog caught, is safe

A dog which has been wandering around Kilcullen in a distressed state for the last week has now been caught and is safe, pending being brought to a shelter or finding him a home, writes Brian Byrne.

The black Labrador first turned up in Noel Clare's garden last week, but ran away when approached. Subsequent to a picture being posted on the Diary, Noel got a report that a dog had been seen being let out of a car near New Abbey.

He was since reported a couple of times in the area, and was seen last night in Sunbury before running off and disappearing into Conroy Park. Spotted in Avondale today, he was this afternoon caught at the traffic lights by sympathetic onlookers and has been secured in a safe place

The dog was running amidst the crossing traffic, barking at the cars and apparently looking for the vehicle from which he was released.