[Animals] Mary Harris: Why the raging debate about dogs' behaviour has common ground

[Love Pulse]

 

It's hard to write about dogs in Tunbridge Wells without appearing to seek to divide.

There's been plenty of rowing on social media about dogs in parks recently, prompted by the Courier report on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's consultation on dogs on some of its land.

The consultation asks the public whether or not dogs should be banned on the Nevill Ground and kept on leads in the main part of Dunorlan Park (not the events field)

 

The consultation is underway. A campaign by a dog owner to fight the idea has been promised.

The turbulent 'discussions' on social media have been wide ranging: the desire to enjoy the park (dog and non-dog people), how much of a problem dog behavior actually is (polarised views), whether or not dog behavior can be considered Criminal, whether or not 'unruly children' should therefore be on a lead (I think it was a joke), if people have a right to not be scared by dogs and a call to 'see the evidence' of incidents involving dogs.

To describe it as a 'war of words' is to over-egg it, but sarcasm, scorn, blame and dismissiveness etc were rife.

So far, so knotty. But it can be unravelled.

 

The premise any problems in Tunbridge Wells - whether a pile of dog mess, wildfowl being chased, or a runner being bitten on the leg - are caused by a minority of dogs (and their owners) is surely something everyone can agree upon.

And you know what the minority does? That's right, they spoil it for the rest. You learned that at school. How many times did teachers say "You've spoiled it for the rest of the class" or '"Right, you're all missing break because of those two'.

They give dog owners a bad name and they spoil things for all of us. I should think people who own dogs find it just as unpalatable stepping in dog mess as the rest of us.

And dog owners don't want an ill-tempered off-the-lead dog causing trouble with theirs.

I think it's a hard call for the council to make - damned if they do and damned if they don't.

But I have had an idea. As I mentioned, someone has mooted an idea of a campaign to ensure dogs can remain off lead. Campaigns sound like work and energy and raising your profile and swaying public opinion.

Why not direct that to educating that minority of dog owners who are, as teacher said, 'spoiling it for everyone else'. Make it an education campaign. Win hearts and minds. Make love, not war. Enforcement officers, let's be real, won't be in parks from sunrise to sundown, issuing advice, enforcing the PSPO.

Those campaigners could work with the council or the Friends of Dunorlan. Leaflets could be printed explaining what the council already states is a dog 'being out of control' in its parks and grounds. Volunteers could hand them out and walk the dog at the same time.

Get better signs for the parks, post on social media, publish an article in the Courier and all this might 'nudge' behaviour.

We need to act on the minority because the 'rest of the class' ain't standing for it.