Good dogs and their owners benefit from walkies amongst nature. In the Tees Valley, we are lucky to have access to so many nature reserves, green spaces and coastal stretches. But there is sometimes a conservation cost to this activity, such as disturbance to wild birds and mammals. These issues are much harder to control when some dogs are off the lead.
Jumping into ponds and chasing a ball into the long grass is undoubtedly great fun for humans and canines alike! However, responsible dog owners are becoming increasingly aware of the threat this behaviour can pose to wildlife. Our recent Ambassadogs project has sought out dogs (and owners) who will take the pledge to “Be the best and let wildlife rest”. We’d love more people to take the challenge and make our natural spaces safe for wildlife.
Good dogs at Bark in the Park
We got the chance to talk about this issue with dog owners at two lovely ‘Bark in the Park’ events, this summer, run by Friends of owner Park, Middlesbrough & Stockton MIND and Redcar & Cleveland MIND. It was great to meet so many responsible dog owners sharing our passion for nature.
If you love your dogs and would like to take the pledge, please visit our website for more information.
