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Dogs (or maybe that should be dog owners) - Barry Hope (8th Nov 2008 - 20:58:04) Hi, Just a plea to those that walk their dogs on the village green. Please, please, please make sure you clean up after your pets as it is absolutely no fun having to clean dog mess off a grandchild when they play there. Not only is it repugnant and disgraceful but it is also unhygienic and could cause all sorts of health problems. Do the walkers responsible not think of the consequences and the effect they are having on the kids of two or three years old who don't stand a chance of spotting and avoiding it in time. Also, why oh why do some dog walkers think it perfectly acceptable to let their dogs off the leads to run around the green for an hour between 11.30pm and 12.30am each night to use the oversize toilet area. While you are standing there chatting to other walkers the dogs are barking constantly (doesn't sound seem to carry much further at night when things are otherwise quiet!) and keeping us all awake until you decide it's time for bed. Have some consideration for others please, it's not too much too ask surely. After all, would you accept me standing under your bedroom window at 12.30am playing my radio or letting my dog bark, I think not, that would be very inconsiderate wouldn't it. I'm not angry, I don’t' think it's an unreasonable request, and I certainly consider it to be good manners to consider others at that time of night, but then again maybe you’re the sort of person that couldn't give a s**t when your dogs clearly do! It must be said however, that the vast majority of dog owners/walkers are very responsible and do clear up and don't let their pets annoy others. As always it is the minority spoiling it for the majority. OK, so I don't moan very often but I've said it now.

Re: Dogs (or maybe that should be dog owners) - Sue Marshall (10th Nov 2008 - 11:53:58) I quite agree with you Barry. We walk our dogs round Liphook and the green every afternoon. They are on their leads and we carry bags to collect their deposits which we then place in the bins provided. Yesterday I went to put a bag in the bin down at the far end of the green only to find that someone had allowed their dog to leave an ENORMOUS deposit immediately beneath said bin. Horrid and quite unnecessary. There are signs up everywhere telling people that their dogs should be on the lead at all times and to pick up ... Not long ago I read in the Herald that a dog owner had been fined a lot of money for not clearing up after their dog, it was somewhere in Liphook, maybe The Avenue? Anyway in the context of your other entry about talking to the PCSO about anti-social behaviour perhaps this subject should be added to the debate. Is it the police or the parish council who take responsibility for enforcing these notices? Certainly there is no evidence that anyone has taken action over the mess(es) on the green.

Re: Dogs (or maybe that should be dog owners) - Jan Rathbone (10th Nov 2008 - 13:56:34) Not a dog owner, but a dog lover, I sympathise with your plight and agree that it's not the dog to blame, but the dog owners. A new neighbour who had been in their home for just a few weeks put a large, hastily hand painted, board on their driveway entrance aimed at 'Dog Owners' - stating that they (the dog owners) walking by, had (allegedly) allowed their dog to foul on their newly gravelled driveway. It went on to say they were 'not cleaners' and 'you know who you are'. This surprised all of our local neighbours to say the very least. Talk about ingratiating yourselves with the neighbourhood (not). It didn't fail to make me smile to see the fox who regularly 'visits' their drive... townies. lol. I'm curious to know exactly where you mean when you say 'village green'?

Re: Dogs (or maybe that should be dog owners) - Barry Hope (10th Nov 2008 - 16:10:58) Hi, The village green we are talking about is the green behind the Millennium Centre and is bordered by Canada Way and Midhurst Road on three sides with the terraced town houses along the fourth side. It's where the fair is on Carnival Night. The comment made about it being the sort of thing that should be included in the Street Watch scheme is very appropriate. It is the sort of thing that anyone walking around can spot and ask the owner to pick up or be reported and face a hefty fine. Fines have already been dished out so it shows that action does have results. Also, have a look at the other posting on Street Watch as Chief Inspector Phillip Kedge has added a very informative and encouraging comment, well worth reading and it shows just how we can recover ownership of our community and streets. Regards Barry

Re: Dogs (or maybe that should be dog owners) - Dawn Hoskins (11th Nov 2008 - 12:38:17) I think a CCTV camera on the green would be in order. Mainly because it is probably the same offender(s) that are continually removing the pleasure of the green open space that this area is supposed to offer. I am a dog owner, and I'm sure that once or twice I may not have seen 'a deposit' being made, however - this is a rare occurance as I keep my eyes on the dog and carry poo bags. Any dog owner taking their dog to a public place WITHOUT a means to remove the poo SHOULD BE FINED. It is disgusting.

Re: Dogs (or maybe that should be dog owners) - barbara (11th Nov 2008 - 18:02:12) Hi Dawn this has been discussed at Parish level in relation to the cctv system already in place at Millenium Hall. Various options were discussed and it was decided to upgrade the existing system there, as it is outdated, but a whole new system to cover the green as well would be horrendously expensive, and we can also get into the big brother debate, why are we be monitered and for whose' benefit? If it is to catch those people allowing their dogs to foul there, the maximum fine would be a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of installing cameras and the fine would be paid to magistrates court not to local parish council. If the village green was rife with drug dealers muggers dodgy geezers etc! then it is surely somewhere the police can patrol day and night! On the subject of why the dogs bark at night, some breeds bark at the smell of foxes in the area at night. I agree though there is a time for walkies and it is not in the dark! A last minute dog tiddle can be performed in the owners garden at night very quickly.

Re: Dogs (or maybe that should be dog owners) - Sue W (11th Nov 2008 - 20:22:59) Barbara I totally agree with your post!! I too am a dog owner, and like Dawn carry bags and pick up my dog mess in public places. Anyone not doing so be ashamed of themselves. We have had topics on this before, and it transpired that the area has a number of bins, so there is not excuse. Obviously in the dark it is very difficult to see what your dog is up. I nor hubby have any intention of taking out the mut, late at night and she has been trained to 'go' in the garden. On the plus side, these dog walkers are probably doing the locals a favour, because petty crime will not be committed when people are present. Perhaps the way forward is to encourage those wishing to walk at night, to become part of the street watch, with dog on lead and poo bag in pocket!!.

Re: Dogs (or maybe that should be dog owners) - Barry Hope (11th Nov 2008 - 21:21:21) Hi Barbara I understand fully that CCTV would be far to expensive and be like the proverbial sledgehammer to crack a nut solution. I was however, hoping that the persons responsible may read this post and realise that their dogs were annoying people around midnight and change their routine to be more considerate. By the way, we are talking about three or four dogs owned by two or three people that seem to meet up for a chat at anytime between 11.30 and 12.30 at night and just let their dogs off the leads to run round the green playing and barking while they are chatting. They're definately not barking at foxes. It is almost like a late night dog owners social club. I appreciate that there is not a lot the PC can do but it serves as another example of people being allowed to carry on as they please without consideration for others. Maybe Street Watch, if it gets going, can assist in resolving this! Regards Barry

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