Friday 13 September 2013

Yet More Demands For Legislation…

…as well as ‘For the chillldreennn!!’ it’s now ‘For the doggies!’:
Ms Carlile said: "We are very upset that we have tragically lost our dog so unnecessarily.
"We are angry as well that it happened but could have been avoided if the pool had a proper cover or was fenced off."
Or if your dog wasn’t allowed to wander off the lead…
The pool does not have any fence or barriers and is located in a garden without clear boundaries. She said the owners of the disused swimming pool claim it is safe and have said they are not prepared to put fences around the property, railings around the pool or a safer cover in place.
Their property, their choice. If your dog had run into the road instead, would you be demanding the immediate closure of the roads?
Unlike New Zealand, Australia and other countries, the UK does not have any laws or regulations to make sure there are barriers around pools.
Ms Carlile said: "We are going to petition to see if we can get a change in laws. It’s such a big risk. Next time it could be a child."
Oh, but it has been. Frequently. Are you hoping that famed English love of animals will prove stronger than their love of children?
Sandie Robertson, volunteer coordinator for DogLost, a community of dog owners who help people with missing pets, said: "We have certainly seen quite a number of dogs reported to us this year who has suffered the same fate as Tessa.
"I know quite a number have drowned in unsecured swimming pools after going under covers. I think it's something that needs proper legislation like in Australia."
Ms Robertson said a lot of people did not realise how many properties have swimming pools in their gardens and it was hard to keep animals away.
One word: leash.

10 comments:

ivan said...

Julia, you do realise that if they have their dogs on a lead it means that they have to go out of the house with the dog rather than just opening the door and letting it wander.

We can't have that, it would mean that the owners actually get some exercise as well as the dog.

I have yet to work out why people that won't take their dogs for walks on a lead have dogs in the first place - is it some sort of status symbol?

Lynne at Counting Cats said...

It's no surprise the poor dog who drowned was a spaniel. It isn't always a garden pool, it could just as easily been a quarry or a river with steep banks. Spaniels, like most gun dogs, simply love water. I know because I'm on my fifth Springer (it's a lifetime love affair with the breed) and she is no exception to the water loving rule (and yes, the cute Springer girl in the pic is mine and was under supervision as well as word command while playing in the mill stream).

The owner is the one at fault as Julia points out. You wouldn't let a toddler wander off out of your sight. The same goes for dogs.

Joe Public said...

The pragmatic solution is to not issue a Dog Licence without prior proof it can swim.

DtP said...

@Lynne - tres cute. There was a story in the Daily Angry this week about a puppy off leash by a cliff and a passing by young couple plummeted to their deaths trying to protect it - tragic. But, in such vein, are we to ban cliffs now?

Budvar said...

The thing with these morons is they wont even be satisfied if 12' fences were erected around the entire coastline at the high water mark and every beck, stream, river, canal, pond, lake and reservoir.


They'll also require that every substance with a density greater than expanded polystyrene be wrapped in bubble wrap and every bath and sink be only used in the presence of a suitably qualified lifeguard...

Ancient + Tattered Airman said...

They could even think of training their dogs properly although in many cases it seems to be the owner in need of that more than the dogs.

Joe Public said...

Ideal signage to absolve the pool's owner from any responsibility.

Furor Teutonicus said...

XX I know quite a number have drowned in unsecured swimming pools after going under covers.XX

Wow!

I have seen LOADS of police dogs, but I did not realise they went undercover as well!

JuliaM said...

"I have yet to work out why people that won't take their dogs for walks on a lead have dogs in the first place..."

I often wonder the same about people with children they clearly don't want, or even like.

But at least we aren't handing out benefits for pets.

Yet.

"Spaniels, like most gun dogs, simply love water."

You'd think a covered pool wouldn't have such an attraction, though..?

"The thing with these morons is they wont even be satisfied if 12' fences were erected around the entire coastline ..."

What they want is for 100% safety at all times. They'll never have that, but it never seems to stop them trying..

"Ideal signage to absolve the pool's owner from any responsibility."

Heh!

Lynne at Counting Cats said...


You'd think a covered pool wouldn't have such an attraction, though..?

Depends on the cover. A hard cover might have looked like solid ground to a dog and tipped it into the pool. A soft floating cover can collect rainwater on top to form puddles which spaniels just love. Dogs don't understand about pool covers and their dangers unfortunately. Nor, it seems, do certain dog owners.