A county councillor has blasted the decision by the local authority not to develop any dog parks in Kerry.
The issue was discussed at the council’s recent Strategic Policy Committee meeting, where council executive recommended against developing dog parks.
Councillors present at that SPC meeting accepted that recommendation, and its minutes were shared with all councillors at the monthly December meeting.
Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Ferris said dog parks are a service that’s badly needed as there’s a lot of demand.
Independent councillor Jackie Healy-Rae, said Strategic Policy Committees are where good ideas go to die, and it was clear that the council executive just didn’t want to pursue the idea.
Speaking at the full council meeting, Director of Services Paul Neary said typically dog parks are in city settings where people don’t have access to rural areas, and they would also require supervision, caretaking, and would need to be opened and closed.
Cllr Healy-Rae rejected the reasoning of behavioural concerns; he said the type of dog owner who would bring their pet to a dog park, would be responsible dog owners.
He added that of course there will be incidents, as there are car accidents every day, but this is not a reason to not bother.
Cllr Healy-Rae said there is a dog park in Monaghan which doesn’t take up much space, has very simple fencing and does not require constant supervision or caretaking.
He said the council should try it on a pilot basis, and, “If people are getting mauled, then it’s time to say fair enough and it didn’t work.”
Cllr Healy-Rae said it’s a very cheap initiative, a good experience for everybody, and the council should do one pilot somewhere in Kerry.
