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Patrols right to fine dog owners who leave mess
• POSITIVE items concerning dogs and responsible ownership rarely make the news. Unfortunately, it takes only a couple of irresponsible owners who may not clear up after their dogs or who allow their hounds to be out of control in a public place and the whole dog fraternity is damned.
Reading last week’s report (Snoop dog patrols are told: ‘Heel!’, March 27), it would appear that one owner allowed her dog to wander off to defecate then was unable to find the faeces to clear it up. If one’s dog is off-lead and out of sight that is not consistent with responsible dog ownership. She was then fined for another litter offence. Good!
A child was followed home by the dog patrol and his mother fined after the dog fouled and he failed to clear it up. Good! Well done, dog patrol. I hope it will encourage the parents to ensure that he clears up after his dog in future. I would bet my bottom dollar that this was not the first time this had happened
This may sound draconian but I spend a huge amount of time promoting responsible dog ownership and there is absolutely no excuse, barring disability, for not clearing up after your dogs and ensuring that they are appropriately trained.
I have no desire to walk down a street or enter a park that is festooned with dog faeces.
However, Islington Council could do far more to provide a better animal welfare officer service, which at present is remedial at best.
Also, we need more dog bins and poo bags, which are sadly lacking in Islington in comparison to neighbouring boroughs.
ROBERT STUHLDREER
Dunford Road, N7
• DOG walkers held a public meeting on Friday when members of the public expressed their views passionately regarding the council’s covert operation and the council officers’ threatening attitude in targeting responsible dog owners.
The threatening “Oi, you” strategy adopted by these council officers was unexpected where residents deserved a more respectful approach.
Those who attended expressed the desire to work with Islington Council to highlight hotspots and to encourage individuals with dogs to control and to clean up after them.
The view was also expressed that the proposed work at St Luke’s Gardens, which has been designated a dog-walking area, should reflect just that rather than the proposed sterile gentrification of the park which will just act as a thoroughfare rather than a haven for residents.
Indeed, the sighting of nesting boxes rather than the wholesale removal of shrubs would seem more desirable as these shrubs act as a natural habitat.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 requires dog owners to “meet the needs” of their pets and to allow them “to exhibit normal behaviour patterns”.
This would include allowing dogs to exercise off the lead, sniff and socialise. Therefore, the EC1 New Deal proposals may need to be looked at again as they may be construed as inciting dog owners to break the law.
This area has another park within a few metres which has been designated for the use of children and there is also a sports centre with football pitches which meet people’s needs.
Writers to the Tribune have said that dogs have been taking over parks but, in fact, humans have taken over the rest of the land, leaving little green space for animals or birds.
Thus Dogs R Us Islington wishes to put the past behind us and to work with Islington Council and EC1 New Deal to meet the needs of residents and dog owners alike in encouraging responsible dog ownership and green space for all.
GEORGE TOPPING
Dogs R Us Islington
• LAST week’s front-page article raised issues around how the council is tackling the serious problem of dog fouling in parts of our borough. Residents are always telling us that more must be done to tackle the small minority of irresponsible people who refuse to clear up after their pets, making everyone else’s life a misery.
That’s why in December the council unanimously agreed that, in addition to our ongoing work trying to educate people to be responsible dog owners, we would start issuing fines to people whose pets are allowed to foul our streets.
Since January, the street environment wardens have been issuing fines in known problem areas. They have been a visible presence in uniform, as agreed in our dog enforcement strategy.
In February, we also carried out a two-week trial with plain-clothes wardens. Our officers weren’t trying to snoop or entrap people, but we understand the concerns of responsible dog owners and residents – and we have now reverted to using only a uniformed, visible presence.
But dog owners should be warned that uniformed wardens will continue to issue fines to irresponsible dog owners, and that we take this very seriously indeed.
Enforcement can only work if we have the support of the whole community – dog owners and non-dog owners alike. You know where and when people are allowing dogs to foul.
If there are any particular problems in your area, please let the council know by calling us on 0207 527 2000, so that we can ensure our wardens are in the right place at the right time.
We would love to issue no tickets whatsoever. But while people still let dogs foul the streets, our wardens will endeavour to keep our parks and streets clean for the benefit of all our residents.
CLLR RUTH POLLING
Lib Dem executive member for leisure and equalities
• I WOULD like to clarify that wardens funded by EC1 New Deal for Communities all worked in high-visibility uniform and not in plain clothes.
Residents have told us time and time again that they are sick of the amount of dog mess in the area and this 24-hour project, which ran for a month, was designed to identify irresponsible dog owners who exercise their pets early in the morning, late at night and at the weekend.
This information will help the council to target the times wardens patrol in uniform in future.
I’d like to add that we were pleased to take part in the meeting with dog walkers organised by George Topping on Friday night and look forward to working with the group to encourage responsible dog ownership in the area.
ANDY MURPHY
Chief executive, EC1 New Deal for Communities
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Your comments:
DOG Mess has been appalling in this borough and it can cause diseases and just plane nasty to get it on your shoe's, children can't play in the park because of dogs mess. I am really angry at irresponsible dog owners who opt to have dogs but fail to clear the mess up! Dog wardens should be fully supported and allowed to get on with their jobs!
M. Still
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