Dog owners are being asked to keep their pets on leads in cemetery grounds. Bath & North East Somerset Council says it is making the appeal for the safety of the public and the animals themselves.
Following a number of complaints from residents about significant issues caused by dogs being allowed to run free, as well as dogs fouling on grounds and graves, the council is urging owners to keep their animals under control before serious harm occurs.
The issues documented as a result of dogs being off-lead have included dogs being allowed to run between grounds maintenance machinery while in operation, being aggressive to staff and frightening other cemetery visitors.
These incidents have occurred at all of the council’s cemeteries across Bath and North East Somerset.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Communications and Civic Services, said: “Thank you to the majority of dog owners who keep their dog on a lead and clean up after them when visiting our cemeteries, however there is a significant problem with some owners letting their animals run free in our grounds – despite us having run social media and poster campaigns to raise awareness and ask them not to.
“There has been regular fouling throughout the cemeteries including – sadly and disrespectfully – on the graves themselves. Dog excrement is dangerous for humans because contact with it can cause an infection, leading to blindness or seizures in rare cases.
“Visitors and staff have also experienced aggressive behaviour from dogs not kept under control by their owners and we are concerned about the serious safety risks for animals too, as there have been instances where dogs have been allowed off-lead near staff who are using large machinery.
“We are appealing to dog owners to please respect our open spaces and people’s loved ones in their final resting place and to keep their dogs on a lead at all times.
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Sad. Not just dogs they have locked the gates to Locksbrook Cemetery and can no longer drive in to tend our parents grave. My father is in CWGC grave having been there for 83 years and my Mother visited every week until her own death and her ashes were interred into Dad’s grave. I have taken over the tending of the grave and no problems with parking. Now with the locked gates and limited parking in the area we are finding it difficult to pay respects to a Dad who paid the ultimate sacrifice 83 years ago.
Living on Norfolk Green we see how many dogs are brought here by people who use it as a convenient dog toilet . With maybe 40 or 50 dogs per day, even picking up leaves substantial residue and the urine just soaks in. Not ideal for children playing, or picnics. The dogs that are let off the lead can be a menace and many are of dubious legality. These days people seem to be keeping dogs in twos and even threes – human rights need to be balanced by responsibility.