ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A public toilet for dogs has been installed in Dublin in a bid to promote responsible pet ownership.

A small rectangular area enclosed by a low wooden fence has been sectioned off beside a pavement on Seán McDermott Street in the northern part of Dublin's inner city.

The installation of the "doggy toilet" coincides with a residents' survey on dog fouling which is being carried out by Dublin City Council.

'It is envisaged that the survey findings will aid us in addressing the immediate challenges of dog fouling and strive for cleaner, safer, thriving neighbourhoods," states a council spokesperson. "We hope owners who exercise their dogs in the area will encourage their pets to use the toilet." The pilot scheme will also see 50 'Dog Poo Bag Dispensers' on Dublin's streets.

The new dog toilet is just over a mile away from Dublin's Mansion House, The Round Room is the venue for this year's European Cleaning and Hygiene Awards. Attendees at the awards - which celebrate service providers, manufacturers, and distributors from Europe's cleaning and hygiene sector - will reap the benefits of the city's cleaner streets.

Dog toilets have been trialled in other European towns and cities over recent years. A device mimicking a human toilet was installed in El Vendrell in northern Spain in 2014. It consisted of a hole in the ground with a lid plus a flushing operation connected to the sewer which needed to be activated by the dog's owner.

The toilet - which also incorporated a doggie urinal consisting of a grid with small holes - was donated to the town by its creator, Enric Girona, as part of a pilot project.