Become part of a dog walkers group [LETTER]
We are devoted to our dogs and not oblivious to their actions while we chat with friends.
EDITOR – How sad it is that last week (25 June) the South Coast Sun chose to lead with a story about a gripe regarding the perceived lack of cooperation of Toti dog walkers.
Surely with all the problems currently besetting our country and community something more proactive would be more to the point. Be that as it may, I would like to present the dog walkers’ side of the story, which was sadly lacking in the article.
I think the Toti dog walkers generally fall into two categories – there are the dedicated ones who are there every day, come rain or shine. They know their dogs, they clean up after them and can safely let them off the lead because they know they have instant recall.
Then there are the weekend walkers who, for whatever reason, cannot be there every day and thus may not be aware of all the correct protocols.
I do not know which category Lee Lewis and Zeele Pauw are having problems with.
The dedicated dog walkers are actually an asset to the community and the environment.
They pick up litter, walk all the trails and report on any unusual occurrences such as leaking pipes. Barring the odd exception, I would like to stress that we know our dogs, when to let them run free and when to rein them in.
We are devoted to our dogs and not oblivious to their actions while we chat with friends. Lewis need not worry about our safety while the dogs are off-lead either – my dogs would defend me, lead or no lead.
One other point raised in your article was the quote from the municipal by-laws regarding waste bins provided by the municipality for dog waste.
I have yet to see one at Hutchison Park and feel it is unhygienic to dispose of dog waste in the normal waste bins as beggars go through these bins and they are emptied by the municipal workers who have no special PPE.
One of the bins does not even have a bottom but is still placed on the field. Perhaps more thought needs to be given to this particular by-law.
Then of course there are the cows, which roam over the whole park, including the playing fields. Are you not worried that no one cleans up after them?
They make a whole lot more mess than dogs and it is far more difficult to remove. Lewis and Pauw are very welcome to join me and fellow walkers on our daily walks, with or without their dogs.
DEDICATED DOG WALKER Â
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