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Jul 2022

Last Updated: 26/07/2022

Community

Dog owners who let their pets off the leash cause distress at Ripon Cemetery

by Tamsin O'Brien

| 27 Jul, 2022

Dog owners who are breaking the rules by entering a Ripon cemetery and then letting their pets run free, are causing distress to bereaved people.

ripon-26th-july-2022-jeanette-behan-and-pauline-mchardy-at-ripon-cemetery

Bereaved families have accused dog owners who let their pets off the leash at a Ripon cemetery of being disrespectful and causing distress.

Jeanette Behan has visited the grave her husband Brian in Ripon’s Kirby Road Cemetery twice a week since 2014.

Mrs Behan, told the Stray Ferret:

“I’ve had to remove dog dirt from my husband’s grave on a number of occasions and I’m getting sick of it.

“It is disrespectful as well as distressing, but Harrogate Borough Council, who I contacted weeks ago, don’t appear want to know.

“I’m sorry to say that over the years, this place has gone to wrack and ruin, while Stonefall in Harrogate where I have family and friends buried, is kept neat and tidy by a team of gardeners.”

In the same section of the cemetery, the last resting place of Michael Hogan, who died in 2012, is looked after by his partner Tracey Bland.

Ms Bland said:

"The thought that some people are so disrespectful that they are happy to let their dogs run free in a cemetery, is beyond belief.

"When they are challenged, the say that they haven't seen any signs to say dogs are not allowed, but why would anybody need to see a sign, when it's a matter of common decency.

"I've got a dog and there is no way that I would let it run free across people's graves."

Tracey Bland at her Partner Michael's grave

Ms Bland at her partner Michael's grave

Harrogate Borough Council accused of being disrespectful of Ripon's dead

Ripon Cemetery headstones daubed with graffiti

Seeking action from Harrogate Borough Council

With a lack of response from HBC, Mrs Behan called for intervention from independent councillor, Pauline McHardy, who also has relatives buried at the cemetery and has voiced concerns about the management and maintenance of the site.

Cllr McHardy, said:

"I raised the matter with council officers, saying that there was a need for signage on all entrances to the cemetery to be improved and positioned where it can be seen by everybody.

"I also asked for the appropriate action to be taken to enforce the rule, which only allows people with assistance dogs to enter the cemetery."

In an email response seen by the Stray Ferret, Alison Wilson, HBC's head of parks and environmental services, said she has asked a colleague:

"to look at the signage options for the site to advise that only support dogs are allowed and also raised the issue with the dog warden service in Safer Communities requesting they undertake some patrols of the site. "

Cllr McHardy, added:

"I will be monitoring the situation."

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Dog owners who let their pets off the leash cause distress at Ripon Cemetery

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Seeking action from Harrogate Borough Council