Dirty old town... mind your step because streets are gone to the dogs

WALKING down Shandon Street in Cork on a recent Sunday morning, I was disgusted at the filth underfoot. There was hardly a paving slab that was not smeared or encrusted with something vile that had to be stepped over.

Dog excrement, slow-congealing blood from the civilised revelries of the previous night, urine streams meandering downhill.

And it is not just an inner city problem. Walking through Blackrock a few days later there appeared not to be a square foot of pavement without dog excrement. Of course, it hadn’t rained for weeks. The city council appears to rely on the certainty of regular rain to do its dirty work and just powerwashing a few central streets is ridiculous.

Shandon Street is the city centre and it makes me cringe with embarrassment each time I see tourists wandering around the historic area.

Why are dog-fouling fines not enforced? It is not difficult to catch offenders. This could be a nice little coffer-booster for the council. But then if you have to walk a mile to the nearest dog litter bin you are not going to put it in your pocket in the meantime. There needs to be more bins as well as some commitment to actual powerwashing in areas like Shandon Street.

At least I could step over the dog dirt. Spare a thought for those who are visually impaired or elderly or use a buggy... this must be a constant source of distress which they regularly bring into their homes.

Jo Howard

Watercourse Mews

Watercourse Road

Cork