Getting all fired up about the proliferation of dog dirt on our pavements, beaches and in parks is deemed by some to be just "oh, middle class" - a small issue in a world full of exploitation, degradation and abject poverty. Small it may be, but the consequences of bringing canine excreta deposited on your shoes into a house where there are small children - particularly crawling babies - can be very dangerous.
While one would not for a moment wish to create or add to an anti-dog lobby, there is no doubt dog faeces everywhere is creating quiet panic among parents and childminders on what would otherwise be pleasant family outings.
"Thirty-one per cent of school children have antibodies to toxocariasis (the infection caused by the parasite roundworm, toxocara canis, present in dog faeces), which means that percentage has met the infection," says Dr Mervyn Taylor, paediatrician at the National Children's Hospital in Tallaght, who has carried out research into toxocariasis. "In most cases, the symptoms are non-specific, with the child being vaguely unwell with a cold or a tummy upset. The most serious complication of toxocara infection is eye disease which can result in blindness.
"But the risk is higher in younger children because they put things in their mouths and crawl on the ground. It is particularly high in those who eat earth because toxocara eggs remain alive for years."
Dog faeces was, in fact, implicated in the death of an eight-year-old Birmingham child who died 12 days into a family beach holiday last summer. She had been infected with E.coli 0157, which can cause poisoning of the body's cells, resulting in kidney failure, brain damage and death. Nine other poison cases were later discovered, one of which resulted in kidney failure.
While it is important to point out that the more serious risks associated with dog faeces, such as the case just mentioned, are rare, their very existence causes anxiety. For those concerned by this issue, there are two courses of action. The first is to avoid contact with dog dirt completely - difficult if you are a regular walker and doubly difficult if you own a dog yourself.
The second course of action involves good hygiene. The best way to avoid picking up the toxocara infection, according to Dr Taylor, is "plain ordinary hygiene, making sure children wash their hands before meals and stopping young children eating earth". Keeping dogs out of children's playgrounds in parks and keeping lids on children's sandpits when not is use will also reduce the risk of infection.
Long-term prevention of toxocara would require a public education programme on the importance of worming dogs regularly and another aimed more specifically at dog owners.
"Almost all puppies are born infected but it is possible, through intensive treatment of the mother and treatment of the puppies at birth, to eliminate the infection," says Dr Taylor.
Meanwhile, shouldn't dog owners take more responsibility for clearing up the mess of their beloved pets?
The current litter legislation has the potential to impose fines - ranging from £50 on the spot to £1,500 following a court appearance - on dog owners whose dogs' deposits are left in public places. The 1986 Dog Owners Act also places all responsibility on dog owners for the removal of dog faeces from public places. In reality, a blind eye is usually taken to such matters.
"I think fines should be imposed. That is the only way you can address various issues in the environment including litter and dog droppings. Irish people are careless in this regard and you won't change their habits by coaxing and appealing to them and pointing out they are doing something wrong," says Tom Cavanagh of Irish Business Against Litter.
"It is disappointing, particularly for tourists, to have to pick their steps along some of the most beautiful promenades in the country," he adds.
Cavanagh also believes providing pooper scoopers will help reduce the mess. "I've seen them presented in a very attractive manner with cute doggy illustrations on five or six beaches in Italy. When they are nicely presented like this, people are more encouraged to use them."
Eugene Vesey is the senior administrative officer of the Environment and Parks Department at Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council. "Dog fouling is still a very serious problem and the tolerance of the public has gone down on this issue. But there is evidence of a growing awareness among dog owners of their responsibility to clean up after their dogs," he says.
Vesey points to recent measures to combat the problem of dog fouling in the area. These include the distribution of 50,000 free pooper scoopers to dog owners (via scout and community groups, veterinary clinics and pet shops) in the past three years, new signposts stating that dog owners can be fined up to £1,500 for not cleaning up after their dog, and new doggie bins. Also, three litter wardens are on duty in the borough.
"Trying to catch someone for dog fouling is very difficult but the likelihood of this happening will increase now with more litter wardens," he adds. One fine has been imposed to date in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown for dog fouling.
