Shannon ‘blackspot’ for dangerous dogs, says warden

CLARE dog warden Frankie Coote has been forced to seek assistance from Shannon Gardaí to help him deal with the lack of proper accommodation for dangerous dogs and other incidents in the town, it emerged this week.

Mr Coote told The Clare Champion he had to impound a bull terrier that was being inappropriately accommodated in flats in the town, without any proper garden or shed.
The ISPCA dog warden also confirmed he has had to regularly call Shannon gardaí because of verbal abuse he receives from individuals, while he is conducting his official duties.
Describing Shannon as a “blackspot” for the high number of dangerous dogs and dogs that are not being properly controlled, Mr Coote estimates he impounded about 30 dogs in the town during the year and only a few owners came to the pound to reclaim their animals.
“Some people in Shannon don’t seem to understand what the dog warden is entitled to do under the law. I can seize a dog if it isn’t being properly controlled, can request a licence and take steps if a dog is deemed to be causing a nuisance to the public.
“I don’t want to be singling out Shannon but this is the area I am having most problems at present. About three years ago, Kilrush was a blackspot in terms of dog control. That is no longer the case as there has been a major improvement in the control of dogs since the regeneration programme.
“I have built up a very good relationship with people in Kilrush. With the co-operation of the general public in Shannon, I hope to be able to build up a similar relationship to resolve this problem.
“Unfortunately, I have been forced to call the gardaí in Shannon to assist me more than any other place in Clare at the present time. I am spending more time in Shannon than any place else. There was one incident where a large dangerous dog was being let out loose without a lead.
“Some people let out their dog in the morning to roam free without any control and don’t see them until it comes back home later that evening,” he said.
He also revealed he was advised by the gardaí to accompany him during routine calls to Cloughleigh in Ennis after one individual, who wasn’t a dog owner, approached him wielding a hurley and spat into his van recently. Mr Coote explained he was only trying to deliver a notice to a house at the time.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael Councillor Vincent Coleman this week requested Shannon Town Council to get in contact with Mr Coote concerning the large number of stray dogs in Shannon.
Councillor Michael Fleming suggested the council should appoint a part-time dog and litter warden to tackle the issue of stray dogs in the town.
Councillor Gerry Flynn expressed concern that the dog warden had to seek the assistance of gardaí to carry out his duties and suggested he should be invited to attend a future council meeting where councillors would try to assist him in his work.
Councillor Tony McMahon criticised dog owners who leave “big strong dogs” to roam freely in public areas without having them on a lead.
“I witnessed a situation where a big Labrador ran up to a child. The dog owner said ‘it is ok, the dog will not harm you’. The child was terrified at the time. If people want to keep a dog, they should be aware it can be dangerous and has to be kept under control at all times,” he said.
Councillor Gerry McLoughlin claimed a lot of people are not aware of the legal entitlements of the dog warden, while some dog owners make no effort to clean up fouling with scooper bags.
Councillor McLoughlin pointed out dogs were fouling in people’s gardens and green areas which could result in a child going blind if it came into contact with this material.
Senior staff officer, James Barry confirmed the council has been in contact with the dog warden who has reported that over the last six months, there has been dog control issues in the town and he has spent a lot of his time in the Shannon area. 
“On many of his visits, he has had to bring the gardaí with him to intervene in some of the complaints. He has also issued a number of fines, where he came across complaints which were repeat offenders.
“The dog warden will continue to visit Shannon on a regular basis,” he said.