By Cathy Stovell Government's waste management section will offer clear information to the public on how to dispose of animal faeces in a bid to dispel any ambiguity over the topic.

Since reports surfaced that Government sanitation workers were fed up with dealing with animal faeces, the waste management office has received a number of calls from people asking what they should do.

A spokesman for the office said the common directive given to people is to dig a hole and bury the waste or flush it into a cesspit.

Composting is to be among the choices Government will set out in the new policy.

In a programme still being worked on, animal owners would be allowed to get wood chips from Government's facility at Marsh Folly to mix with the excrement.

According to the spokesman, the mixture would generate a lot of heat and decompose very quickly, which would eliminate any foul odours.

Much of the problem with disposal has developed as a result of people keeping more animals than their property could support and the growing popularity of dog breeding and kennels.

Director of Agriculture & Fisheries John Barnes yesterday said the Government veterinarian and dog warden had recognised the emerging problem and changes to the Dogs Act debated in the House of Assembly yesterday would go a long way toward eliminating them.

The new Act will transfer authority for dog licensing from the Postmaster General to the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries and increase the powers of the Director to regulate those keeping dog kennels.

Currently there are no provisions in place to govern or regulate those who keep kennels.

Many kennel owners operate their facilities on concrete slabs but only some of them have included a piped drainage system for the refuse.

Some owners also wash down the slabs but others simply gather the waste and put it out for trash collection.

The problem for many is thought to be the physical lack of green space at their homes or kennels in which to bury the waste.

Mr. Barnes noted that no one was supposed to own more than two dogs without a special permit or breed dogs without a licence to do so.

The spokesman said the section was in liaison with the Health Department, the dog warden and the Government vet to nail down the policy.

He added that, in the meantime, the dog warden and Government vet were monitoring the situation at the Island's kennels.

HEALTH HTH ANIMALS ALS