“Hi Neil, This subject is one that re-surfaces here on the message board periodically. It is always discussed, we all have our moan, but nothing is ever done.
As a responsible dog owner and a mother of young children who like to play in the park i would like to suggest the following.
1. That we petition the rec comittie and ask them to consider that dogs stay on leads whilst being walked. (I know this will infuriate many dog owners but sometimes in order to get to the few the majority must suffer) Think of the benefits, if this means that everyone picks up after their dog we have a much better park for our kids. If people want to let their dogs off the lead there are plenty of other places to go.
2. That notices go into the information box or even to the dog bins just reminding people how much a fine is
3. get the dog warden to patrol the park sometimes
and finally, lets start naming and shaming these people, even if we dont know their names we have a description and the breed of dog.
Lets also remind our kids who take the dogs for a walk that they also need to start picking up after their dog, im sure this represents for alot of the mess.
And for everyones information who say we hide behind words i am the disabled lady who walks the rough collie on a morning to the park monument, he will not even wee out let alone poo!! he waits for my garden for that!”

Posted by Tracey | 27/02/2009 14:51:24

“I agree with Tracey and feel that the presence of the dog warden would be a welcome one, the news of fines for letting your dog foul would soon spread and hopefully discourage the offenders! I am the owner of 2 dogs and also have a baby and we often nip to the park for a quick walk during the day. On numerous occasions my dogs have been attacked whilst being on their leads, have been left with puncture wounds and subsequently our small dog has been diagnosed with epilepsy brought on after one of the attacks. Our dogs are not angels and i keep our male dog on the lead as he has become defensive since the attacks.The owners of the dogs have always been furious when i have kicked out to defend my own dogs and have only begun to appologise when i've become enraged. I can only sympathise with you Neil and encourage you to introduce your children to a known friendly dog as they may never loose their fear.”

Posted by julie | 27/02/2009 20:52:09

“Craven District Council Dog Warden tel. 01756 700 600.”

Posted by Joan | 28/02/2009 12:00:04

“Why not make a 'dog walk' around the edge of the Rec? There is room to fence off a 5m (ish) wide area around the perimeter so that dog walking can be confined to this area, and banned from the rest of the field. This dog walk could lead around to the back of the Rec (to the gap in the wall) so that owners can continue their walk from there.

”

Posted by CB | 01/03/2009 11:48:13

“good idea about the fence, and plug it into the national grid.”

Posted by chris | 01/03/2009 22:14:57

“Further to my reply earlier, i am willing to conact the rec comittie with a petition on everyones behalf but i need to know if you want me to do so, i could collect names off here but also leave one at baines shop for people to sign, what does everyone think??
The petition would be for dogs to be kept on a lead. It's a good idea about the fence but that would cost money and i can't see them agreeing to that
We were at sutton park the other day and they dont even allow dogs! it was wonderful :)”

Posted by Tracey | 02/03/2009 07:30:15

“Its not just the park. Right outside our front gates some kind person has let their dog do its mess and not bothered to clean it up. I have kids who like to play in mud etc, how are they to know the difference? Its disgusting.

An unhappy mummy”

Posted by rkp | 02/03/2009 09:28:06

“German town plans dog DNA database to stop fouling
The German town of Volkach is to DNA test every dog so it can fine owners when their pets foul public spaces.
Full story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/4400064/German-town-plans-dog-DNA-database-to-stop-fouling.html”

Posted by Mark @ Cowlingweb | 02/03/2009 16:57:37

“i've been reading the replies to my original posting with some amusement. thanks for the positve comments, these views have been noted by my wife, who will pass them on to the recs committee at the next meeting.
i'm still concerned that a total ban would be difficult to impose due to the public footpath running across the rec, but a ban could be done on the rest of the area.( ie. a corridor route with compulsory lead enforcement) does the dog warden have any durestiction????(spelling) in this area.”

Posted by neil | 02/03/2009 19:21:24

“Yesterday I discussed the issues with the dog warden. She is well aware of the poop problem and now even more so, and agrees that like Sutton park dogs should be kept on leads.She is also planning on visiting the rec at the appropriate times to catch lazy dog owners. Yet again on sunday our dogs were attacked whilst on their leads by a black dog being walked by 3 teenagers who could not care less,all texting on their mobiles and not one coming to retrieve their dog. Next time i may follow them and others who do not seem bothered about their vicious dogs and report them to the dog warden.”

Posted by julie | 03/03/2009 10:30:22

“In Germany "there are fines when the authorities can be bothered to implement them".

Why should it be different here? I hope that the offending owners will be caught and fined, but till people take their and their dog's picture "in flagrante delicto" or are prepared to spend time following dog owners home, I doubt anything will be done.

Of course it would be interesting to post such pictures on here, but I can't see that happening either.”

Posted by Greywolf | 03/03/2009 17:34:53

“You are welcome to submit pictures with the relevant information to accompany them Greywolf and I would be happy to publish them.”

Posted by Mark @ Cowlingweb | 03/03/2009 18:32:50

“Are you sure you wouldn't be in breach of the European Human Rights malarkey? I'm not joking either.

But I'm never around when these dogs are leaving their filth, since I've no dog to walk; but I bet lots of those posters here who ARE incensed have digicams / mobile phone cameras. So use them, folks. And if the webmaster's serious, get those wrong-doers posted!”

Posted by Greywolf | 05/03/2009 00:05:12

“The Acre Field footpath is just full of "it" also.”

Posted by Joan | 05/03/2009 15:24:57

“can i also point out that the road leading up to the path to the moor is also full of it and please can the person that picks it up but stuffs it into the wall please stop. it is disgusting”

Posted by lizzy barlow | 05/03/2009 16:47:13

“POST MOVED TO TOPIC BY: COWLINGWEB

i've been reading the replies to my original posting with some amusement. thanks for the positve comments, these views have been noted by my wife, who will pass them on to the recs committee at the next meeting.
i'm still concerned that a total ban would be difficult to impose due to the public footpath running across the rec, but a ban could be done on the rest of the area.( ie. a corridor route with compulsory lead enforcement) does the dog warden have any durestiction????(spelling) in this area.”

Posted by neil | 05/03/2009 19:55:02

“That'd be jurisdiction, Neil.”

Posted by paul edwards | 05/03/2009 22:34:50

“In response to Joan's comment about the acre field path from moving to the village 7 years ago this path has been known to our family as D** S*** Alley but recently the Quantity has increased. I am surprised there is any poop left in the village for it to be deposited in the park. If this is the direct result of new housing and people moving to the village and not being responsible for there animals I'm concerned about any future developments (maybe there's away of making a profit out of the deposits open a bank and get emergency funding for toxic deposits?)”

Posted by Martin A | 06/03/2009 12:02:25

“So have we really arrived at any conclusion here? My own would be BRING BACK THE DOG LICENCES AT £200 each! (Sorry you dog lovers)! And what about the cats too?”

Posted by Joan | 10/03/2009 13:29:30

“Just been out and about - nice afternoon - and a medium brown dog with green collar came bounding past me - went into field, did a .... , had a run round, then went back all on its own?? Must have known about the above comments? But it didn't seem to know about the 2 dog bins in the vicinity!”

Posted by Joan | 10/03/2009 16:53:00

“Just seen two dog fouling notices have been placed at each entrance to Hartley Field, any more?”

Posted by Joan | 19/03/2009 22:12:49

“i must say as i live in minden germany that all through germany anybody walking his dog has by law to take the dog muck home and throw in the dustbin ,if one is seen or caught your can expect an on the spot fine ranging from 15 to 50 pounds,there is nothing worse than treading on a dog land mine yours harry”

Posted by harry proud | 04/04/2009 23:01:10

“I Don't understand why anyone with a dog would walk it in the park! We live in a village surrounded by countryside, why take your dog to the park?? unless you are taking your children as well, in which case???? I Have two dogs, both rescue dogs and they are walked in the surrounding fields. Joan, I have to disagree about the dog licence, although by adopting our dogs we did pay a considerable fee to the dog charity, better use there than to end up in the goverment coffers. The majority of dog owners in Cowling are responisble and the few are letting the rest down. Nothing is said about Cat poo....I know it isn't on the scale of the dog poo, but they come into gardens, poo and dig and kill the birds, how about compulsary bells on all cats. And kids. I agree with tracey, Dogs taken into the park should be kept on leads. Bins provided at regular intervals. And Neil, if you would like to fetch your children to see my 7 year border Collie who is fantastic with children you would be very welcome.”

Posted by Lynne | 07/04/2009 10:21:52

“Congratulations to the rec com it's great news about keeping dogs on leads whilst in the park, are there going to be signs made to go on the entrances (gates)?
I know there is a letter in the glass case at the top of the park and that it was in the news letter but for some reason it isn't being adheared too, early days i know, and these things take time but you can never be short of too many signs!!!
All we need to do then is to teach people to read!”

Posted by tracey | 09/04/2009 09:05:18

“There was loads of dog poo (albeit some of it in bags) just left on the grass by the skatepark hut this morning. Mind you it was in good company with the cans, bottles and polystyrene takeaway cartons. By the war memorial the auction sign for the Harlequin has been torn down and all ripped up and scattered everywhere. Nice. It was more like walking through a dodgy inner city estate than a pleasant park in the centre of a Yorkshire village.”

Posted by Denise | 13/04/2009 22:02:12