People who fail to clean –up after they allow their dog to foul on public footpaths should be DNA tested and fined. That was the view expressed by Ballina councillor Annie Mae Reape at this week’s monthly meeting of Ballina Municipal District.

The councillor was responding to a suggestion that DNA testing is being used in some local authorities internationally to prove that a particular dog is the culprit in fouling footpaths, and subsequently the pet’s owner can be prosecuted.

Cllr Reape insisted that it’s not the fault of the dogs that the footpaths across the county are littered with dog fouling, but rather, she said the blame lies squarely with some careless pet owners.

The problem of dog fouling on Ballina streets at present was discussed at the monthly meeting, with many councillors suggesting that the situation has got much worse over the last year, with so many people out walking with their pets since the pandemic began.

Cllr Reape has been outlining her views to Midwest News....