OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
This from Amy Able. Ed
As a dog lover, I do not understand the position of many owners. If you love your dog, then surely you would invest in proper training. Dogs, like children, like to know their boundaries.
Many dog owners allow their dogs to poo anywhere, and do not clean up after them. Notices warning of £1,000 fines for not cleaning up after your dog are ignored.
Discovering piles of dog poo
On Bembridge Beach recently my young grandchildren discovered three heaps of smelly, fly invested dog poo, which I had to clear up. Shortly afterwards a dog owner appeared on the beach with two large dogs, one of which immediately soiled the beach.
In response to my objections, he reluctantly cleaned this up, but deposited his Poo bag on the sand afterwards, whilst announcing that he had only the one poo bag. But he had two large dogs!
Minority give dog owners a bad name
What is the point of fine notices if they are ignored, and no one is policing the beach?
Most people do clean up after their dogs, but it is the minority who don’t who give dog-owners a bad name.
It’s usually the dog owner who needs proper training, not the dog
Imagine if you were faced with a dog as large as, or larger than yourself, who repeatedly ignored all commands to come to heel. This is the situation many toddlers and young children find themselves in. If a dog doesn’t come to heel on the first ask, then it is not well trained, and neither is the owner. Keep such dogs on a lead, and bear in mind that it is usually the dog owner who needs proper training, not the dog.
Despair at negligent and irresponsible attitudes
I love dogs, but I am in despair at the negligent and irresponsible attitude of the minority of dog owners, who give the rest a bad name.
In the UK dog owners are still in a minority, yet some owners treat them as Gods.
Please, Isle of Wight council, sort this out.
