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Dog Nuisances
Apart from being an objectionable social offence, fouling of
footways by dogs is a public health nuisance for which an adequate remedy
is hard to find.
While it has been shown that dogs can carry and excrete germs
capable of producing illness in man, it is seldom that cases of human
disease can positively be related to infections originating from this
source. Nevertheless, such instances do occur and the potential risk
cannot be ignored. Certainly dog filth is an attraction to flies and
blowflies, with consequent possibilities of conveyance of infection.
The main objection, however, to the fouling of pavements and grass
verges by dog excreta is the nauseating revulsion, embarrassment and
distress caused by chance pollution of shoes, clothing, mats and carpets,
necessitating disgusting and time-consuming cleansing operations.
The Council's byelaw dealing with this nuisance provides that:-
"No person being in charge of a dog shall allow
the animal to foul the footway of any street or public
place by depositing its excrement thereon. For the
purposes of this byelaw the owner of the dog shall be
deemed to be in charge thereof, unless the Court is
satisfied that at the time when the dog fouled the
footway it had been placed in or taken into the charge
of some other person."
During the year no prosecution was taken under this byelaw.
WELFARE OF OLD PEOPLE
The Council have accepted the responsibility, within their powers,
for co-ordinating and assisting in the extension of activities for aged
persons and to alleviate unsatisfactory conditions under which many old
people are living.
Co-operation with voluntary bodies interested in the welfare
of old people is effected wherever possible. In order that action taken
shall be uniform, the Kensington Old People's Welfare Voluntary Committee
act as an intermediary between the Council and the voluntary bodies.
four members of the Public Health Committee serve on the Old People's
Welfare Voluntary Committee which acts as a co-ordinating non-executive
Committee through which voluntary bodies claim assistance from the Council
and through which the Council pass requests for executive action.
Advice Leaflets
The Council arrange for the distribution of copies of a
pamphlet giving information of the services available to old people
individually or through a club.
S.O.S. Cards
Window display cards are provided by the Council, bearing the
letters "S.O.S" in red on one side and, on the reverse side, directions
how the use the card, with space for particulars of next-of-kin or nearest
relative. These cards are distributed to appropriate old people. Any
person seeing one of the cards in a window is able to summon help from one