This week, Brambles Wildlife Rescue attended Stanley Park Lake in Blackpool to a suspected dog attack of a swan that has led to significant injury of the swan's beak. This incident has been reported to the police and dog warden.

In August 2022, Brambles Wildlife Rescue attended Stanley Park Lake to a witnessed dog attack on a goose that had been bitten to the leg. The owner with two mastiff type dogs left the scene without arranging help. Brambles treated the leg injury.

In November 2022, a squirrel was attacked by a dog on Stanley Park and this was witnessed by several passers by. On arrival at the rescue, the squirrel had a significant  spinal injury and had to be taken to a vet for euthanasia. The owner of the dog, although reportedly upset by the account of the witnesses, never came forward.

These incidents cannot continue to happen, injuring and killing our innocent wildlife who deserve to be safe within their own environment from people's pets that are brought into the wildlifes environment. 

We also understand, from local reports, that there are significant problems with dogs off leads elsewhere in the park that have threatened or injured other dogs using the park, with owners having no recall.

Local charities cannot be expected to continue to foot the bill to treat such wildlife injuries with no statutory support from councils, when visitors to the park are allowed to let their dogs off the lead indiscriminately in areas heavy with wildlife.

This petition seeks to propose that Blackpool Borough Council make the lake area of Stanley Park an area where dogs must be kept on a lead all times, where offences are punishable by fixed penalty.

This is something that Fylde Council have already implemented in their local parks due to dog attacks on wildlife.

The council may also wish to consider whether there should be designated spaces in the park where owners can let their dogs off the lead (such as the lower field and bowling green) so that other dogs, including those of a nervous disposition around other dogs, can also use the park safely.

Please support our petition to protect the wildlife on Stanley Park and make it a safer space for all animals.