Take the lead for social distancing

CLARE’S County Dog Warden is urging dog owners to keep their pets on a lead while out walking to maintain social distancing during the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
Frankie Coote explains that friendly dogs maybe inclined to go up to people if not leashed, meaning their owners have to break social distancing to retrieve them.
“It might not be the law to have certain dogs on leads, but it’s my advice at the moment. I see them in Lees Road and I’m trying to stay my distance and advise them. But a friendly dog is going to run over to children, and he won’t come back so either the children are picking him up or you have to go over to get him. In fairness I would say maybe 80% of people are keeping them on leads which is a great thing.”
Meanwhile a spate of pigeon deaths in the Ennis area is believed to have been caused by an outbreak of Newcastle Disease, a highly infectious bird disease. Mr Coote has received a number of calls about dead pigeons as well as doves throughout Ennis and its surrounding areas.