POLL: Would you pick up after someone else's dog?

Wednesday 23 May 2018

A local canine behaviour and training specialist is calling for dog owners to "step up and pick up" whatever dog poop they come across, even if it's not their dog's mess.

Jo Laurens' call comes after the National Trust for Jersey found the area around Victoria Tower in Gorey soiled with dog poo, and she is worried dog owners might be restricted in where they can walk.

In a post shared on their Facebook page, the National Trust for Jersey said that their Education Officer had come across so many dog poos in the area recently that she had run out of bags to pick them up. "She has had to clear away or mark areas that they cannot use," they explained. Adding that "such a beautiful and species-rich natural area is being spoiled for many by a few people," they urged dog owners to "kindly clean up" and put their dog on a lead when there are children in the area. 

Donna Le Marrec, Marketing and Events Manager at the National Trust, explained that they ask dogs to be on leads in conservation grazing areas such as Sorel and Fern Valley among others. In addition, they also restrict access to environmentally sensitive areas (SSIs), such as Grouville Marsh and St Ouen’s pond.

"It really depends  on the site and what is happening in each one," she told Express. "Many of the Trust staff own dogs so we are not anti-dog at all! It is just that we are trying to manage public amenity and protection of wildlife and sometimes dogs off the lead and dog poo are not compatible when we are staging education activities at places such as Victoria Tower."

Pictured: Situated on a hill-top, Victoria Tower overlooks Anne Port Bay, St. Catherine’s Pier, and Mont Orgueil Castle.

In addition, Ms Le Marrec explained that dogs off the lead can disturb ground nesting birds and cause damage to the flora, which is a valuable habitat for smaller mammals and insects. Dog poo is also health risk to adults and children and to the Trust's rangers when they are managing grassland areas with strimmers. "In essence we are asking people to be a little more considerate," Ms Le Marrec said. "So that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy Victoria Tower whether it be for educational activities, having a picnic, walking their dog on a lead or allowing our wildlife to thrive.

"The Trust’s land is in essence privately owned but the Trust is here for the benefit of our Island. However, we can only realistically deliver that benefit with access for all if everyone works with us to achieve that aim." 

While the National Trust has not indicated plans to prevent dogs from accessing the area around Victoria Tower, Jo Laurens is concerned that if the situation does not improve, not only this area but others too will be closed off to dogs. A canine behaviour and training specialist, she knows that running off the lead is essential to a dog's well-being.

With only a few areas available for dogs to exercise freely, Ms Laurens says that losing Victoria Tower will be a "huge loss" for dog owners, especially for those leaving on the east of the island. In a Facebook post, she noted they have almost "nowhere to exercise dogs off-leash which is inland, besides St. Catherine’s Woods (which, as woods with paths through them, are not open land)."

She explained: "Dogs need to exercise. They need an open area where they can run. When dogs lack exercise and stimulation, you see a lot more of aggression and frustration. Gun dogs also need to be off the lead to work on recall. It is the same for dogs who work on obedience, tracking and agility. 

Pictured: Dogs need to be off the lead to exercise properly says Jo Laurens.

"Besides we don't want dogs to be segregated or separated from the rest of society. In places that are very accepting of dogs and integrate them, where there is a dog and people relationship, dog aggression is lower because there is more harmony. We don't want to have beaches for dogs only or places for dogs only, we don't want to go in that direction."

To make sure that no more areas are closed off to dogs, Ms Laurens has had an idea. While dog owners have been asked previously to pick up after their dog, Ms Laurens wants them to also pick up whatever poo they come across. 

"Besides I think that once an area looks dirty, it is much more tempting not to pick up after your dog. If you go for a walk and see lots of poo behind, you don't bother. But if it is all clean, you are not going to want to leave it behind. It's a vicious circle. If we keep areas clean, even the not so responsible owners will be more likely to clean up."

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