Tuesday 28 February 2012

Dog Fouling in Ulverston

This issue again!

I hope people can strike the right balance. My view is that:

1. We should talk to all those we suspect of dog fouling even if that risks us making ourselves unpopular - this really helps.

2. If we don't like it, we should quietly and without fuss pick it up ourselves even though it has nothing to do with us.

3. Ford Park should be very careful about its policy as I suspect that over 95% of dogs using the park are very responsible and they have a great influence not only on other dog owners, but on the behaviour of other people such as young people who might be tempted to vandalise property as has happened in the past. Far from demonising dog owners they need to be encouraged to be members of Ford Park Community Association with a special low cost membership - Can we move to a wider community involvement rather that polarisation of one section against another.

4. This issue is one where added regulation is ineffective - what is needed is that all of us try to improve the situation by our personal behaviour towards the problem and to the people that cause the problem.

Can we look to the Town Council adopting a policy that promotes the above concepts?

10 comments:

P. Alson. said...

Surely a job for those useless and expensive PCSOs. Have them walking up and down The Gill, Gill Banks, Ladies Walk etc, day in day out, handing out fixed penalties to the selfish gits who allow their pets to foul those areas. As usual your idea of "wider community involvement" is bollox. These people are commiting offences and need to be brought to book. They'd soon get sick of paying fines.

Geoff Dellow said...

Why P.Alson do you have the need to be so rude?

The method you suggest hasn't been found to work.

The few PCSOs that we have are NOT useless; they do a good job of using their influence in a large number of ways to encourage good community behaviour.

It seems to me that they would do well to knock at your door !

There are many problems with enforcement:

1. Not enough officers allocated to this particular problem.

2. They operate out of Kendal only very occasionally.

3. They often wear bright yellow jackets and can be seen a mile off.

Let's face it with financial cut backs and what I see as increases in criminal behaviour, this problem comes very low on the list of priorities.

Because the future is going to become increasingly worse, who do you suggest is going to do something about it ?

Come on don't duck out of an answer.

What do you say that doesn't have "bollocks" attached to it?

We've had a nanny state for too long where we gripe all the time about how "They" don't solve a problem when if we had a bit more guts "We" could do something ourselves.

People DO NOT like their neighbours criticising their behaviour. Saying something ourselves DOES WORK. And setting a good example is even better.

This applies in a wide range of situations: all the way to telling bad parents that they could do better bringing up their children.

We need to operate as a community rather than a collection of selfish whining individuals. What happens around us is the result of the generally accepted values of all the people who live together. We don't have to have laws to influence behaviour. Infact it's when communities grow too large that people start to ignore each other's behaviour.

In Ulverston,with a population of 12,000 we're fortunate to be able to know most of the people in the town if we've lived here since birth. Those of us who speak out can have a tremendous influence.

Let's not be afraid of using it. The problem is ours - no one else's.

Gladys Hobson said...

This problem is happening in other places too. There is a lot our way — on the pavements. I have not seen it happening though. I sometimes wonder if it is not just uncaring dog owners but child dog walkers whose parents haven't trained them, or maybe elderly dog owners who are too crippled to bend down and pick it up. I think a fortune is to be made for someone to invent an expanding stick with a device for gripping the dog dirt and pulling it into a plastic bag dispensed from within the stick. If possible a tie completes the 'package' and all the disabled person has to do is pull it off and place it in a bin. (By pulling it off the next plastic bag is pulled into place.

Geoff Dellow said...

Thanks Gladys,

To what extent do you think that the problem is caused by lone dogs let out on the loose ?

Either dogs without a home or those put out the back door to fend for themselves.

One dog on a daily basis will create a lot of shit.

Gladys Hobson said...

I guess you have to see it happening to get an idea of 'how'. Could be dogs are let out to do their 'business' but lack of fencing or gates left open allow them to roam.

Geoff Dellow said...

P.Alson, when you have something meaningful to contribute, I shall publish it. Repeating yourself is of no help to anyone other than to yourself.

Anonymous said...

To all concerning this disgusting matter, a fellow member of the gill in ulverston who lives at number (number removed by Geoff), is still letting her black and white dog out on its own of a night time and early mornings, the dog tends to foul round the back of the trinity church buildings and down the side alley, my 4 year old boy has stood in the mess on numerous occasions and we have approached this horrendous situation as amicably as possible with the owner of the dog, however she seems both not to care and considers herself above picking up her own dog mess, i am now taking this a step further and have contacted the council directly and i am in the middle of approaching the evening mail, i believe a name and shame policy should be brought out as these people are destroying our beautiful town and its unique areas.

Geoff Dellow said...

The person to contact at the council is Rob Kitchen.

If you want any support feel free to contact me.

Anonymous said...

Many times I have seen that resident leave her dogs mess and a list as long as my arm of others. The dog order was discussed at a town council meeting lately and their day will come! Fines and naming them will happen in the evening mail. This will bring her and them to respect the area they live in.

Geoff Dellow said...

Anon. this is the last comment I will be publishing until you identify yourself.

I believe in a spirit of openness. Sniping from behind the bushes creates disharmony and lack of respect. You in your turn are leaving your dog shit for others to walk in.

I find that people are ready to listen when spoken to directly. Sniping just causes anger and a hardening of attitudes rather than a considerate community.