I have written on this blog before about my concerns about the use of public land by commercial dog walking services. I have said that as these are commercial activities and people make money from them, they should be properly licensed and regulated. A pack of large and unruly dogs being exercised by someone not in proper control of the pack poses a clear and present danger to other users of the public space. They don't clean up their mess, they have no regard for other users of the space and they make money from their operations. Any activity which poses a threat to other members of the public should be subject to licensing and control and this is no exception.My wife walks our dog on a daily basis across Arrendene open space. In recent weeks she's told me the activities of "the wolf". A large wolf like dog which has apparently attacked several other smaller dogs. This dog is walked by a professional walker and is not muzzled. I have been increasingly concerned. I am even more so today. The picture you see is of what this dog did to our well trained and friendly mutt. My wife was in no position to intervene. Another professional dog walker with a pack of dogs, in an act of solidarity with the Wolf walker said "He only growled" (to gauge the scale of the wound compare my wifes' fingernail to the cut) and explains "he only does that when there is a new dog in the pack".
The mentality of some the people who run these services is just one where they just don't care for anyone else or their pets. If Barnet Council do nothing then they are culpable and negligent. Councillor Joanna Tambourides is the Cabinet Member responsible for Community Safety. Councillor Lynne Hillan is the Leader of the Council. If they do nothing and something really bad happens, they've been warned. They have to act now or face the lawsuit later.
