Reports of a second dog attack on the Greenway in Muff have prompted calls for tighter leash rules.
It comes as a mature man was bitten by a dog, reportedly a Labrador, on the popular walking path on Saturday.
Donegal Daily understands that the incident was not officially reported to gardaí.
In a separate incident in June, a jogger in his 20s had to receive hospital treatment after being bitten on the leg by a Rottweiler. The incident also took place on the path between Muff and Quigley’s Point.
Cllr Terry Crossan believes a complete ban on dogs on the Greenway is impractical but insists on stricter owner responsiblity.
“I think a ban on dogs on the greenway is a non-starter,” Cllr Crossan told Donegal Daily.
“Genuine dog owners who care for their dogs should be able to exercise their animals every day as part of their own exercise plan, as long as they clean up after them and the animal is under control.
“I am not sure if the dog was on a lead or off the lead, I don’t know all the facts, but if I was walking a dog down along a very busy road I would want to have my dog on a lead no matter how well trained it is.
“And if you have a dog that comes under the dangerous dog category, it has to be muzzled and kept on a short strong lead and can’t be under the control of anyone under 16 years of age.”
Cllr Crossan has been campaigning for greater resources for Dog Wardens in Donegal. At the July council meeting, he criticised the fact that the dog warden is only contactable between 10.30am and 1.30pm Monday-Friday, saying that it should be funded for more hours.
“They are not contactable over a weekend, a bank holiday, Easter or Christmas,” Cllr Crossan said.
“There should be a designated number for people to contact the dog warden in the case of an emergency. If there are incidents out of hours, people are advised to contact gardaí.”
Cllr Crossan has also committed to getting signage added along the greenway regarding the control of dogs.
