BARELY a week goes by without correspondence in the newspaper concerning dogs.

Perhaps our reputation as a ‘dog friendly town’ has developed over time from an apparent tolerance and laissez-faire attitude by officialdom.

Has the time come for the councils to get to grips with some of the problems?

For example, the ancient stones of the porch of the museum are being eroded by dog urine and market stalls including those selling food get doses of the same liquid.

Some popular doggy corners run with odorous yellow rivers; faeces that some owners do not pick up get spread over pavements by unaware pedestrians and ; people who are unsteady on their feet, babies in pushchairs and mobility scooters have to negotiate extending dog leads; in wet weather smelly dogs make it unpleasant to relax in our wonderful cafés, pubs and restaurants; churchyards are treated as dog loos; and in shops dogs brush by low displays of items for sale.

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