The body of an Alsatian [German Shepherd) has been found rotting in a clothing bank in Falcarragh, Co. Donegal, according to Independent councillor for the municipal district of Glenties, Michael McClafferty.

The councillor told Agriland that the dog was found, wrapped in blankets, by the person who went to take the clothes out of the clothes bank.

He said: "That's as bad as it gets, it's very serious. The council [is] doing what [it] can. It’s the public that need to make the commitment.

"That kind of dumping, it’s being dumped in our fields, in our forests. My concern from the farming end, they’re starting to throw broken bottles and aluminium cans into fields," he added.

McClafferty believes that the public needs to be "educated" about the impact that dumping has on the local community.

"We have to get into the schools. More education has to be targeted at younger people. If adults, the people driving cars, don’t know what to do, how can we expect kids to?" he said.

"We need a united front and a united approach, but at the minute it’s an epidemic of rubbish up around us.

"It would be a huge help to start with, but people can be more responsible. That can only happen if the media talk about this," he added.

Another aspect of the dumping in Co. Donegal that is "frustrating" the councillor, is the health and safety issues caused.

He said: "When you have rubbish, you have vermin. It spreads disease, it gets into real dangerous stuff.

"I'd like to call on people to please be responsible along our roads or hedgerows. Please take your glass bottles to the bottle bank.

"Please think of other road users before you throw away glass bottles. Decide the next time, before you throw your bottle, what broken glass could do," he added.