Memorial Park is a wonderful resource for local dog owners, but recent incidents have brought its use into the spotlight. Paolo Candotti, Chairman of Kloof Conservancy, has issued an appeal to Memorial Park users to please use the park responsibly.
There have been a number of incidents in recent weeks of dogs chasing birds and damaging the vegetation in the wetlands as well as the an ongoing problem of fouling of the park.
The municipal by-laws require all dogs in public places to be kept on leashes and under control at all times. The by-laws also require dog owners to clean-up after their dogs.
In Memorial Park, the requirement for dogs to be on leashes has not been applied and it has generally worked well as most users adopt a responsible attitude and manage their dogs well. This has led to a very pleasant environment in Memorial Park, which has a good reputation as a dog-friendly park.
As a conservancy the park is very supportive of the status quo but urges users to ensure that they conduct themselves in a responsible manner by controlling their dogs so that everyone can enjoy the park and we can protect the wildlife and maintain the indigenous vegetation we have worked so hard to establish. The areas of particular concern are as follows:
- Dogs chasing and injuring birds and on rare occasions the small mammals (slender mongoose, water mongoose and large spotted genets) that sometimes visit the park
- Dogs rampaging through the sensitive wetland areas damaging the wetlands and disturbing nesting birds – there are numerous areas where dogs can splash in the streams without going through the sensitive wetland areas.
- Not picking up after your dog has messed – it’s your dog, it’s your responsibility to clean up.
- Leaving the park and letting the dogs run loose on the roads on the way home.
“We appeal to everyone’s sense of civic responsibility in this regard,” says Paolo. “Help us to ensure the park is safe and enjoyable for everyone so that it can remain a dog friendly park.”