WOOF JUSTICE FOR DOG WALKERS AS COUNCIL FOULS UP

24-03-2008

Sandwell Council has finally got round to putting up warning notices at a Black Country cemetery where dog walkers have been fined for exercising their pooches.  There’s just one snag - they give the wrong information.

The recently erected signs at the Brunswick Park Road entrance to Wood Green cemetery, say that dog fouling is banned and pets must be put on leads “if directed”.

Fair enough, you might think. 

Except that as we’ve reported previously owners have been handed £75 on the spot fines simply for walking their dogs in the graveyard – yet there’s no suggestion that this activity is prohibited.

So is it allowed or isn’t it?

Stirrer reader Paul Perrins from Wednesbury is one of those forced to pay up under protest for taking a stroll there with his boxer Molly last month.

At that time, there were no signs whatsoever (see link here)

Sandwell Council claimed that their new rules on dog walking introduced at the start of the year had already been put into the public domain through other local media so there was no need for notices. 

Now they’ve backtracked - but are now putting up information which appears to be incorrect.

As Paul Perrin says, “I don’t think the council now what they are doing.

“Can we take a dog on the area or not?  Who knows?”

One thing we can be certain of – none of this will stop the “dog walking Gestapo” handing out more fines to innocent pet owners.