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Camden News - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS and MARIA TONELLI
Published: 21 August 2008

Laura McIntyre with her dog, Chloe

Foul words: the mystery letter writer waging war on terriers

Animal lovers outraged over threat to ‘slay and display’ their dogs in park

A DOUBLE whodunnit mystery was in danger of being left unsolved this week as leads ran out with residents still crying foul.
Two searches were under way: one for the dog who keeps messing up grassy Rochester Gardens in Camden Town; the other for the frustrated letter-writer who wants to see the canine culprit punished with the harshest of penalties.
It all began when a letter from Fergus Nash, identifying himself as vice-chairman of the Rochester Road and Rochester Terrace Residents Association, landed on the New
Journal’s doormat on Thursday.
“Let it be known henceforth,” the handwritten letter said, “that any dog owner observed by a member of our organisation allowing their animal to foul the pavements or public gardens of Rochester Road, Rochester Terrace and the vicinity will have their hound captured, slain and the cadaver displayed in the terrace gardens as a warning to future offenders.”
Trouble is, attempts to find Mr Nash have drawn a complete blank and there were serious fears among dog-walkers in the gardens yesterday (Wednesday) that a vigilante is ready to take matters into his own hands.
Ben Toson, acting chairman of Rochester Terrace Gardens Residents Association since April, said he had never heard of Mr Nash or the combined residents groups that he claims to represent.
Mr Toson said: “It would be mildly amusing if it were not so serious. It’s very scary. His plan is not endorsed by our association and I have no clue of who this person is. It’s completely obscene and I’ll be contacting the local Safer Neighbourhoods team about this.”
Liberal Democrat ward councillor Paul Braithwaite was equally horrified by the letter.
“It’s highly irresponsible – and an incitement to criminal behaviour – for him to call for dogs to be slain and strung up,” he said. “I’ve got some sympathy for the sentiment – I’m frustrated with people who let their dogs crap with impunity – but I have no sympathy with the letter-writer.”
Animal lovers are also worried. Martin O’Brien from Bartholomew Road in Kentish Town takes his dogs Bobo and Chico walking in Rochester Terrace garden most days. He said: “Nash should be arrested at once.”
Laura McIntyre, who has a Labrador called Chloe, called the letter “frightening and disgusting”.
Conservative Councillor Chris Knight, who is due to take over the council’s environment department in September, said: “We are looking at putting up extra signage and we encourage residents to call up street environment services to report incidents of regular dog fouling.”

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