Dog owners urged to keep pets reined-in
Inconsiderate dog owners are being urged to keep their pets on leads when near the children’s play area in Crieff’s MacRosty Park.
And calls have been repeated for better signage to remind them of their responsibilities.
One grandparent observed six dogs running freely in the playground recently.
She said: “Some children are wary of dogs and it can be frightening for a child to have a big dog running up to them.
“This is supposed to be a safe place for children. I love dogs but owners should consider that not everyone does.”
The woman said it was difficult to tell who the dogs belonged to and, like many others, she would like to see dogs being kept on leads while near the play areas.
In October 2019, the Herald reported a series of incidents involving children being nipped by dogs, and an appeal was made for more signs to be put up in the park urging people to keep dogs under control.
Carol Hassard, whose son was nipped while playing on the zip-line, said: “There are plenty of other areas where people can let their dogs off their leads further away from the play equipment.”
Joanna France’s daughter also had a bad experience with a dog when using the play equipment.
The Crieff mum told the Herald: “Thankfully she wasn’t hurt badly – the back of her top had a slight tear and she had a slight graze on her back. It was a smaller dog if I remember and the owner was very apologetic.”
She continued: “MacRosty Park is big enough to have plenty of other more suitable space to let a dog run loose.
“I feel either the park needs to be fenced-off like it used to be or it should
be mandatory to keep dogs on a lead while in the children’s play area, even if you are just passing through.”
Isabel Simpson, a long-serving member of community group Friends of MacRosty Park, said there were too many incidents occurring.
She commented: “We’ve asked Perth and Kinross Council and greenspace rangers if we can have better signage. We even tried the dog warden. People miss the signs we do have. They are not big enough to catch the eye.
“We’d also like to see a bigger sign at the play area rather than just at the entrances to the park.
“Children cannot keep getting bitten. Dogs are also doing more than pee in the sand as you can imagine.”
Isabel is not frightened to confront dog
owners she sees flouting the guidelines.
She continued: “I saw a dog do its business in the children’s sandpit. I caught the chap whose dog it was and told him. He was quite embarrassed and picked it up. He’d been lying in the sun while his children were playing and hadn’t noticed.
“It could happen to anyone – they could be chatting and not see what their dog is doing.
“It’s not a lot to ask – please keep your dogs on the lead in the children’s play area.”
Crieff Community Council chair Harry Thomason would like to see dogs barred from the top area of MacRosty Park altogether unless they are on a lead.
He said: “The sign says dogs have to be under control in the park but that’s not good enough.
“They are peeing in the sand so I would say these dogs are not under control. They should really be on the lead in the top area of the park.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “The council has ordered new signage, which will be displayed more prominently by the play area, asking dog owners to keep dogs under close control. This is expected to go up in February.
“However, regardless of the volume or location of any signage, it is the responsibility of the dog owners to keep dogs under control in all public areas, not just parks, and responsible dog owners will do this without the need for signs.”
Concerns regarding a dog’s behaviour should be reported to the council via 01738 475000, or Police Scotland on 101.