Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Row over poo in park Residents call foul over irresponsible dog owners
A ROW has erupted in Stobswell over irresponsible owners allowing their dogs to leave a “calling card” for others to fall foul of.
Locals claim the dog mess problem has been made worse by long grass in the park and on verges.
Disgruntled residents in the Baxter Park area say they are fed up dealing with dog poo.
A spokesman for Stobswell Forum said: “We have had a number of complaints regarding dog mess along Park Avenue and Bingham Terrace.
“Stobswell Forum is also still receiving complaints regarding the number of dogs off their leads in Baxter Park, discouraging non-dog walking residents from using the park.”
One Bingham Terrace resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The mess just now is disgusting and a complete health hazard.
“A child I know was playing in the park and fell and landed right beside a pile of dog poo.
“Because the grass is longer than normal just now it is very difficult to see the mess that some owners allow their dog to do and then don’t clean up.
“Dog walkers should be forced to keep their dogs on leads and to clean up after them.”
However, Lucy-Hope CarbrayJohnson said there was no reason why responsible dog walkers should be told to keep their pets on leads.
She added: “Dogs and dog walkers have just as much right to be able to use the park respectfully as non-dog walkers.
“In my opinion if the dog owner is responsible, the dog being off lead or not shouldn’t make a difference to whether or not the mess is picked up.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said there had been no increase in complaints about dog fouling.
He added: “Through its Take Pride in Your City campaign, the council encourages everyone to be responsible when they are out in Dundee’s parks and open spaces.”