The Big Push is on - we have from now until the 8th August, the next meeting of Edinburgh Council's Culture & Communities Committee (where we will be delivering a deputation) to build a strong case addressing the issue of dogs in cemeteries.
If any decisions go against us in August, we can consider that the end of the matter for quite some time.
So we need your help.
We will be composing a strong deputation document for the committee, which will also be posted on the Edinburgh Council website for the public to read, as well as delivering a shorter verbal version at the meeting (those delivering deputations only get a limited amount of time).
We have received this week, a letter of support (part of which is in the photo above) that we will be adding to our deputation to the Councillors in August, which should really help bolster our message. As you can see, this person is extremely upset with what is happening with dogs being exercised in cemeteries too.
To quote a few points in the letter..
'' As usual there was a steady stream of dogs coming in, owners throwing balls, dogs running wild. I'm sick of folk saying it's ok''
''when they run towards you, it is so disrespectful. I have seen folk coming in cars to exercise their dogs, even though there is a park nearby''
'' If I wanted dogs running over my plots, lifting their legs against the headstones or leaving a dog poo on your plot because the owner thinks they don't have to pick it up, I would bring my own dogs. I would never bring my dogs to any cemetery''
Andy and I have one shot at this, to convince the Councillors that this needs to be resolved. If anyone here could write any personal thoughts or experiences they wanted to share and hopefully between us, we can make them sit up, listen and take our requests seriously.
Many voices are so much stronger than one or two, so please, if you could take a few minutes to help us, it would be vastly appreciated.
We currently have 1339 signatories on this petition - imagine if all 1339 of you took just five or ten minutes to send us a similar letter/email/comment here on the petition...what a difference that would make!
Please also:
- Keep sharing the petition on social media - the more signatures the better
- If you want, chip in a £ or two to promote the petition to a wider audience
- Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/hv3nigZTe2aEbnjo/
Thank you in advance, Paul.