Home News Community Mountmellick Tidy Towns launch ‘Mutt Mitts’ in partnership with Laois County Council

Mountmellick Tidy Towns launch ‘Mutt Mitts’ in partnership with Laois County Council

28th November 2019

LCC Mutt Mitts Mountmellick 01 — Laois County Council, in partnership with Mountmellick Tidy Towns, is pleased to announce the launch of Mutts Mitts in Mountmellick. Mutts Mitts dispensers are for dog waste bags and three of these dispensers have been placed at various locations around the town of Mountmellick. Cllr Conor Bergin acting Cathaoirleach launched the Mutt Mitts, pictured with Kitty Creighton, chairperson Mountmellick Tidy Towns with Toffee; Geraldine Wren, LCC Environment Section with Honey; Tristan Blundell, ISPCA Laois Dog Warden with a stray dog just found; Ciaran Sheehan, Mutt Mitts Ireland and Padraig Culleton with Holly. Photo: Alf Harvey.

MUTT MITTS launched in Mountmellick this afternoon (Thursday) outside the Mountmellick Community Arts Centre.

Laois County Council, in partnership with Mountmellick Tidy Towns, is pleased to announce the launch of Mutts Mitts in Mountmellick.

Dog waste is a health hazard. Did you know that children and sports field players are most at risk from toxacariasis due to dog fouling?

You could be at risk from other potential infections from dogs including roundworm, salmonella and e-coli.

Dog owners are legally obliged to clean up after their pets if they go to the toilet in public places such as on the street or in a park and could face a fine of up to €150.

When you clean up after your dog with your Mutt Mitt just bring it home with you and place in it in the bin.

Mutts Mitts dispensers are for dog waste bags and three of these dispensers have been placed at various locations around the town of Mountmellick.

More importantly, each Mutt Mitt dispenser comes with Mutt Mitts!

Mutt Mitts are better than a traditional dog waste bag, because each Mutt Mitt has an end pouch that forms a ‘mitten’ to make clean-up easier and safer.

Mutt Mitts are also puncture resistant. The 2-ply bio-degradable Mutt Mitt creates heat shield.

Users don’t get a ‘warm handshake’ or any yuck feeling!

Mountmellick Tidy Towns committee will ensure the Mutt Mitts dispensers are refilled regularly so that dogs owners can help to keep the town and its environs tidy and clean of dog waste.

This launch is a follow on to our successful Green Dog Walker campaign which was held earlier in the year county wide.

It’s aim is to encourage responsible dog ownership and in a non confrontational, friendly way to change attitudes about dog fouling.

What we are asking people to do is to “take the pledge” to:

· Clean up after their dog
· Carry extra dog waste bags
· Gladly give a dog waste bag to anyone in need on a walk
If you wish to get involved please contact Ms Geraldine Wren or any member of the Environment
Section in Laois County Council who can give you a pledge form to complete and in return receive your
Green Dog Walkers Hi Vis Vest.

It is planned to install additional Mutt Mitts dispensers in Abbeyleix, Portarlington and Emo in the coming weeks and we have more towns and villages lined up for 2020!