City gone to the dogs and no-one is barking

IN the recent Pfizer Healthy Neighbourhood Survey (Irish Examiner, Oct 2) it was interesting to note that 75% of Irish people are satisfied with the cleanliness of air, streets and public places.

The figure for Cork city was 69%, just one below the German average of 70%.

After having encountered eight dog droppings (one minutes old) in a six minute walk from my home to my workplace in Cork city I am left marvelling at this statistic and can assume it means one of three things:

(a) No Cork respondent to this survey has ever been in a German city.

(b) Cork respondents have no problems with current levels of human and animal waste in the city or,

(c) Both of the above.

I never leave home to walk my dog without at least one plastic bag to collect the offending object. Is this such a hard chore for the responsible dog-owner to countenance?

After the German visitors return home from their visit to the European Capital of Culture in 2005 they may just contact Pfizer to seek an adjustment of their earlier rating. A bit of direct expression of collective disgust with these lazy dog-owners would not be out of order.

Sean Kelly,

4, Holmwood Terrace,

Southern Road,

Cork.