Stupid dog-owners make killing of swan inevitable
Published: 20 May, 2010
• THE slaughter-by-dog of my beloved pen swan on Vale of Health Pond was absolutely certain to happen and the only surprise is that it didn’t happen sooner (Dog kills Heath swan, May 13).
I’ve walked past the pond every other day for years and always with apprehension that the swans won’t be there any more because of some stupid dog-owner.
Like everyone who ever walks on the Heath I get molested by dogs all the time. They bound up aggressively; they plaster muddy paws on my clothes; they bite my hand and the stupid owners never, ever, call them off until I instruct them in frank Anglo-Saxon terms to do so, and then they look all offended.
Dog-owners mostly keep dogs for the purpose of projecting social aggression in a sneaky and deniable manner (like when they let their dog bound up and bite me and then mutter “sorry” with their eyes elsewhere as if it’s somehow the dog’s fault and not theirs).
They are essentially abusing these wonderful animals for that egotistical purpose. Nobody ever controls their dogs around Vale of Health Pond.
They put them deliberately into the water at all points, not just the roped-off dog-bathing beach, and they do this regardless of where the swans are or what time of year it is and, of course, they never call their dogs off when trouble threatens.
Not one week ago I saw some idiot put two dogs into the water at one of the fishing points and the cob swan had to come over and see them off himself, because the idiot owner did nothing and said nothing and was clearly too stupid, like most dog-owners, to realise what a potentially fatal situation she was creating. And that’s dog-owners all over.
As for the Heath “rangers” – if they actually knew the Heath, which they don’t – they’d know that posting one tiny temporary notice with lettering 4mm high is not going to stop dog-owners projecting aggression wherever and whenever they like.
Unless there is a big, permanent, metal sign with damned great letters saying “dogs must be kept on a lead” and advising of the maximum penalty, dog-owners will take no notice at all. They think it’s their God-given right to let their dogs bite anything and anyone they see without let or hindrance.
HUGO BARNACLE
Croftdown Road, NW5
Comments
death of the swan
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-05-21 17:14.My daughter and I walk our german shepherd on the heath every day. like most of the other dogs we meet, he is well - behaved and belongs to responsible owners. Most of us fully appreciate and love the wild life on the heath, and mourn the loss of the swan, and the possible tragic consequences to his mate and the eggs. Mr. Barnacle is clearly as stupid as the people to whom he is referring, blinkered and bigotted. Perhaps he would be better off walking on the West Heath, picking up all the condoms.
"Projecting social aggression"?
Submitted by theid on Thu, 2010-05-20 20:59.Do you seriously imagine that dog owners are dancing a jig at the death of this wonderful creature? The majority of daily dog walkers are better informed about the Heath flora and fauna than most visitors and we are devastated at this appalling incident, but delighted that “The Heath Constabulary attended immediately, with a view to a possible prosecution under the Heath bylaws.”
hugo barnacle
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-05-20 19:28.As a dog owner, I happily walk my Jack Russell on the heath on a daily basis. He has yet to kill a swan, duck or any other form of wildlife and to the best of my knowledge he is well behaved around other people and their animals. I personally cannot recall spotting any instances of the hoards of wild dogs that Mr Barnacle's life is apparently plagued by. I will continue to walk my trained, obedient dog on the heath using a lead where appropriate regardless of the blinkered opinions of Mr Barnacle.
"Tar" + "brush"
Submitted by theid on Thu, 2010-05-20 18:48.Dog owners mostly keep dogs to "project social aggression"? Do you honestly suppose that we rejoice in the death of this creature? On the contrary, the vast, vast majority of dog owners were devastated to hear this news and delighted to read that “The Heath Constabulary attended immediately, with a view to a possible prosecution under the Heath bylaws.”
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