Dog walkers are being urged to be responsible amid warnings of a “silent killer” spreading across the Belfast Hills.
The Belfast Hills Partnership is working with local landowners and organisations to raise awareness of the impacts of Neospora, which can be fatal.
Spread through dog waste that hasn’t been bagged and binned, the disease can cause cows to miscarry.
Cows remain infected for life and will never breed again, “spelling disaster” for upland herds and for the farmers relying on them for their livelihood.
The insidious disease also infects dogs and foxes, causes symptoms including difficulty breathing, paralysis and muscle atrophy.
Belfast Hills Partnership Manager Dr Lizzy Pinkerton reducing the risk of transmission is simple - clean up after your dog
“It’s easy to shrug and say ‘what harm am I doing?’ but the reality is that dog waste is incredibly dangerous, not just to livestock but also to other dogs, and indeed people, through the spread of various diseases,” she said.
“We encourage everyone walking their dogs in the Hills to bring along poo bags and make sure they bin their waste when leaving.”
Dog walkers are also encouraged to stick to the paths and keep their dog on a lead when out walking to keep an eye on what your dog is up to and where they are at all times.
Craig Somerville, National Trust Countryside Manager, highlights how Neospora is a particularly important issue for Divis and the Black Mountain.
“In recent years livestock graziers on National Trust land have increasingly raised concerns about the parasite Neospora, infecting their cattle herds, with at least one tenant grazier reporting the disease as being confirmed within their herd.
“Neosporosis causes abortions in cattle and can also have a damaging effect on dogs. The disease has been linked to places where dogs and cattle interact and has been associated with dog fouling.
“In order to help control the disease, it is important that dog owners clean up after their dog and keep their pets on a lead and away from livestock.”
