‘Dog Fouling’ Byelaw gets closer

Los Verdes are fully aware of, and concerned about, the problems that the unsocial behaviour of some dog owners causes by their failure to clean up the faeces of their dogs from public areas.

The Party has been working on this problem by putting pressure on the PP government in Orihuela to find a solution for some time. On the 15^th November 2007 this matter was brought to the attention of the PP controlled Council by the issue of a ‘Question’ from Manuel Gallud Gilabert, one of the three Councillors of the Municipal Group of Los Verdes of Orihuela, for discussion at the Pleno (Council Meeting) held on the 27^th November 2007. The matter of the control of dangerous dogs was also raised in the same question.

The Council was requested, amongst other items to take the following action in respect of ‘Dog Fouling’.

• That the lack of a Municipal Bye-Law relevant to the problem of the control of ‘‘Dog Fouling’ is rectified without delay.

• That the Council authorises urban areas in the city, in the rural areas, and in the coast, so that the owners of the dogs can take their animals to do their toilets without soiling the public highway.

• That the Council installs throughout the municipality a sufficient number of dispensing machines of bags or utensils, and collection bins, to enable those persons walking their dogs to collect, and correctly dispose of, the faeces of the dogs.

• That the Council initiates and promotes an information campaign which provides all the information to the citizens of the obligations that comes with the possession of a dog and it’s fouling within public areas of all types, and the legal consequences should they choose to continue to allow their dogs to foul the public areas.

Despite the reply being given, by the ruling PP party that this matter was already in hand and under consideration at that time, (this seems to be the PP’s stock answer when questioned on a failure of duty on their part) there has not been anything forthcoming up to this time. Our three Councillors have raised the matter in subsequent Plenos (council meetings) to continue putting pressure on them (PP) to honour their obligations to take action to ensure that the residents live in a clean and safe environment.

It would seem that the persistent pressure has had an effect. Los Verdes have been made aware that it is the intention of the PP government to present a Byelaw (Ordenanza Municipal) to the next monthly meeting of the full Council (Pleno), due on the 24^th June 2008 for approval and inclusion within the Municipal Statutes, to control the problems of ‘Dog Fouling’ and the Ownership of Dangerous Dogs.

The approval of the Byelaw is the first and most important stage in the campaign to ‘Clean up the Costa’ of this problem, and it is hoped to report good news after the 24^th June 2008.

80% of Fly-tipping is done by 20% of the Population!

80% of the illegally dumped rubbish in Orihuela Costa is dumped by 20% of the population of the area. That is if the logic follows the Pareto Principle, The Law of the Vital Few, or the 80:20 Rule as it’s more commonly referred to.

My experience in business and in life has shown the general principle to be valid, plus or minus a percentage point or two.

In line with the theory it would seem to follow on that 80% of the illegally dumped rubbish is located in 20% of the Fly-tip sites in the Orihuela Costa area. Could it be that if the Council concentrated just 20% of its cleaning effort on clearing those sites, we would all see an 80% improvement in the cleanliness of Orihuela Costa?

Can it be that 80% of the population who complain about the levels of rubbish will do nothing to clean it up, whilst 20% will? Does it follow on from this is that 80% of the residents accept the presence of rubbish, whilst only 20% do not? Surely this cannot be true!

Let’s now consider another aspect of unwanted litter on our streets, namely that of the presence of dog fouling. The rule suggests that 80% of the problem, the volume of dog faeces not cleaned up, is caused by 20% of dog owners.

Then there is the matter of litter thrown from cars. Is it possible that 20% of car users are responsible for 80% of the roadside rubbish, surely not?

Perhaps the percentages are all wrong! Perhaps it is more realistic in these circumstances that it should be the 95:5 rule. This would suggest that just 5% of the population dump 95% of the rubbish, or its only 5% of dog owners who don’t clean up after their animals and account for 95% of unwanted dog faeces on the streets, or it’s only 5%of motorists that are litter bugs. Those are better ratios!

But are they? If that is a more realistic ratio then it would suggest that 95% of the population who complain about the levels of un-cleared rubbish will do nothing to help clean it up. That 95% of the residents accept its presence in public areas! That cannot be true, can it?

The concept of the Pareto Principle I believe is valid, but does it matter what the actual percentage ratio is? What does matter though is that we all must surely agree that the amount of the various types of rubbish thrown and left on our streets, parks, playing fields, and open country is un-acceptable in a modern society.

Some of the important questions that we must find answers for are; how do we educate the fly-tippers to stop using public areas as their personal tip; how do we educate irresponsible dog owners to clean up their dogs faeces; how do we educate the majority of the population to get involved in clearing litter to help keep their local environment clean, rather than relying on the minority to do the job for them?

The most important question of all is;

how do we stop Orihuela Costa becoming an illegal landfill site?