Bradford scoops poop issue

By Sarah Schwager
CLEANING up after your dog in Casey parks could become easier with new methods of scooping up “doggydo” on the drawing board.
Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford said dog pollution had become a problem in the many parks in Casey. Cr Bradford said while council wanted to encourage people to use those parks to get healthy and walk their dogs, the problem was remembering to clean up after their dogs, “when the natural act occurred.”
“There is no avenue for people who don’t bring their own doggydo bags,” he said.
Cr Bradford said the mess left parks unsafe, and doggydo there for children to pick up and play with.
The issue was brought up at council recently, when councillors backed a report to look at various types of dog excrement collection systems.
Cr Bradford said the issue had been raised by a number of concerned residents.
Other councils, such as Knox City Council, have implemented a stand in their major parks that contains cardboard slips with fold lines that turned into a scoop and then a collection bag.
“This is a good option. We don’t want plastic bags,” Cr Bradford said.
He said the cardboard scoops were one possible option that could be implemented in Casey.
“This is one method we can look at to ensure safe and clean parks.”
The motion for council officers to prepare a report outlining the implementation procedure, annual cost and various types of dog excrement collection systems to be installed in council parks and open spaces was passed at a council meeting on 20 September.
The report will be brought back before council at a November council meeting.
“Then council will decide whether we go ahead or whether we look at other avenues,” Cr Bradford said.
“We will need to look at all other possible methods. We can’t implement anything without looking at the costs.”
He said such a system would only be installed in the main and mostused parks in Casey.