Thank you for raising this difficult and sensitive issue in such a measured way. As you say dogs are great companion animals and dog walkers can help to make our urban wild places feel more populated and safer. But, as a bird watcher who is often just standing, looking through binoculars, I am frequently confronted by aggressive behaviour from dogs, who see a person lurking on the path as a threat.
As well as the pollution from dog pee and poo, there is the lesser known issue of the toxic pesticides in flea treatments. If a dog swims in a pond or river within a few days of being treated, these chemicals, which are highly poisonous to aquatic life, get washed into the water with potentially devastating effects. See this article on the Veterinary Prescriber website https://www.veterinaryprescriber.org/safedogswimming#:~:text=2.,(48%20hours)%20after%20treatment.
I think part of the answer is in educating dog owners from the start. It never works well when people are confronted on the spot! All new dog owners should be given an information pack which includes their responsibilities to wildlife, the environment and other people. Wildlife organisations could also do a lot more with information boards and signs, and finding ways to engage directly with local dog owners to explain the issues.
Thanks for raising the pesticide issue, Pennie. I was vaguely aware of this but it's useful to see that link. I think alot of dog owners are completely unaware of the harm this could do to wildlife. As you say it is yet another reason why we need some way of ensuring all dog owners are required to undergo some form of awareness raising/training which supports the argument for reintroducing licensing.
Thank you for raising this difficult and sensitive issue in such a measured way. As you say dogs are great companion animals and dog walkers can help to make our urban wild places feel more populated and safer. But, as a bird watcher who is often just standing, looking through binoculars, I am frequently confronted by aggressive behaviour from dogs, who see a person lurking on the path as a threat.
As well as the pollution from dog pee and poo, there is the lesser known issue of the toxic pesticides in flea treatments. If a dog swims in a pond or river within a few days of being treated, these chemicals, which are highly poisonous to aquatic life, get washed into the water with potentially devastating effects. See this article on the Veterinary Prescriber website https://www.veterinaryprescriber.org/safedogswimming#:~:text=2.,(48%20hours)%20after%20treatment.
I think part of the answer is in educating dog owners from the start. It never works well when people are confronted on the spot! All new dog owners should be given an information pack which includes their responsibilities to wildlife, the environment and other people. Wildlife organisations could also do a lot more with information boards and signs, and finding ways to engage directly with local dog owners to explain the issues.
Thanks for raising the pesticide issue, Pennie. I was vaguely aware of this but it's useful to see that link. I think alot of dog owners are completely unaware of the harm this could do to wildlife. As you say it is yet another reason why we need some way of ensuring all dog owners are required to undergo some form of awareness raising/training which supports the argument for reintroducing licensing.