A FAMILY heartbroken after their pet died from a killer canine virus has made an emotional plea for people to clean up after their dogs.

Lola died after contracting suspected Parvovirus in the marina area of Harrington, leaving a Salterbeck couple and their two daughters “devastated”.

A vet told the family that the three-year-old Jack Russell Terrier probably contracted the virus from contact with dog faeces.

Irresponsible dog-walkers have been blamed for what happened amid claims from harbourmaster Ged Doran that the problem is getting out of hand.

Nicola Whineray and her partner David Briley said their children – Amelia, five, and Kacey, 12 – had been left “absolutely heartbroken” by Lola’s death.

She said: “Both girls still talk about Lola. She was a little beauty, part of our family. We have got another dog – Roxy – but it’s not the same. Lola never bothered anyone. She wouldn’t go to other dogs and kept herself to herself.

“The only place we took her was Harrington. She was down there every day. One day we took her down and afterwards she just wasn’t right and started being sick.”

Following a discussion with their vet, Nicola believes that Lola’s death could have been prevented.

“We have always got poo bags and I don’t understand why people can’t just pick up after their dogs, especially when there are children around,” she added.

The problem of dog fouling is so grave that harbourmaster Ged Doran has raised the issue at a meeting of the dock board

yesterday.

He said: “The harbour and surrounding grassed areas, including the hard standing, has become the victim of dog fouling. I rarely see dog owners carrying a bag or poop scoop which in some parts of the country is an offence in itself.

“Unscrupulous and uncaring dog owners don’t seem to think it is an offence not to clean up after their dogs when in fact there is an on the spot fine of £80 or up to £1,000 if taken to court.

“They don’t seem to consider other members of the public or the kids who come down to play.

“I was talking to a boat owner and the owner of a young dog who said his young dog had died from Canine Parvovirus which he is adamant was picked up from dog faeces during his daily walks around the harbour area.”