Again thanks to everyone for their support, shared and contributions- it means a lot! X

Following the update on this petition on the 10th February one of our supporters who regularly posts updates on this petition recieved a message from one of people involved in the petition for "Edinburgh Council to reinstate "No Dogs in Cemeteries" rule that was in place pre-Covid".

We debated sharing it here as we don't want to appear petty or cause the indidivual further difficulties. However, we equally feel it may help clear any matters of confusion that others may share with the person and also show some of the messages we receive. Whilst it is a matter of interpretation we personally feel devastated to receive such a message which causes a lot of stress and sadness. As stated previously we are not against an individual we are against a petition and we also have loved ones in the cemetery who we are fighting for as well as fighting for people like us.

Names have been retracted for privacy and respect although from the content of the message it may be possible for one to think they know who the message was written by but this does not mean it was by that person or that they are being identified. Given the message was written on facebook we feel the information has been publicly shared already it is OK to share it further especially if it helps clear up issues.

Message from one of people involved in the petition for "Edinburgh Council to reinstate "No Dogs in Cemeteries" rule that was in place pre-Covid":

"Just in case you missed it on the other petition page..

Name retracted , I feel I need to respond to your last update 'yin and yang' but please be aware, this is the last correspondence I ever want to have with you.

I need to address a few things.

First off, you have taken my statement of me being irate with certain people in the past totally out of context. You continually use it in your posts. I want to point out that I ONLY speak to people who are in violation of the cemetery rules, usually dog walkers with their dog off the lead (which has been a rule for well over a year now) or people who have let their dog remove a teddy or something from Name retracted grave.

I am totally within my rights to point these violations out to people, regardless or not of whether you agree or disagree.

I approach them and politely ask why they are breaking the rules and am met most of the time with hostility, lies, bad excuses and quite often aggression – I have even being threatened to be "put in the hospital" whilst I had my one-year-old son with me.

There are, unfortunately in the minority, times when I have explained my situation and the current rules, and a dog owner has said they completely understand, were not aware they were causing upset, apologised, and never returned. 

Naturally when I have been faced with a hostile situation, this has occasionally led to arguments. It is human nature. However, I have NEVER threatened ANYONE with violence. 

I'm asking you to stop trying to tarnish my name with this false information. I would ask you to remove any mention of this allegation from all your posts. It is starting to feel that you have turned this into a hate campaign against me, rather than the issue you claim to be so passionate about.

I am now filming every encounter I have with people violating the rules, so as I have absolute evidence that I am not the aggressor. Perhaps it's me that should be contacting Police Scotland? 

You like to mention my grief, perhaps to look like you are sympathetic to my situation? You have no idea how I feel. I don't have just normal grief, I have severe grief, a recognised totally different form of 'normal' grief.

I want to say at this point, although I have no problem with a counter petition, I am being badly affected by your relentless rants about how I should be reacting to people violating the rules."

Response from the person who received the message, written by going through the petition amd updates and conferring with the writer of this petition:

"Hi name retracted

Many thanks for your message, this is the second time somone from the campaign for "Edinburgh Council to reinstate "No Dogs in Cemeteries" rule that was in place pre-Covid" has contacted me on this Facebook thread.

I'd like to point out that whilst I post updates on the counter petition and answered Andy's questions on facebook the other day I have never said I have written the counter petition. If you have issues with what is written it is possibly more appropriate to address these to the petition to ensure you reach the writer. 

I have revisited the updates from the petition and conferred with the writer on this occasion to give you a response but i will not always have the time or energy to do so - I am also feeling stressed and anxious.

No where is your name mentioned anywhere in the counter petition or in updates - therefore your name can't be being tarnished.

Yesterday's update was a reply to an update by the petition for "Edinburgh Council to reinstate "No Dogs in Cemeteries" rule that was in place pre-Covid" and aimed to address concerns people may have had in relation to that update.

It was very clearly stated that the counter petition is against the petition for "Edinburgh Council to reinstate "No Dogs in Cemeteries" rule that was in place pre-Covid".

It also very clearly states it is not against an individual.

Out of all the updates, behaviour in the cemetery is mentioned twice, there has been no discussion of physical aggression/assault/violence. 

The first time behaviour was mentioned in the cemetery the update clearly stated that this was worrying as 

"...this has the potential to be intimidating for people going to the cemetery even for people following the rules." 

"Imagine mourning for someone and hearing somone shouting at someone else in the cemetery, this would add to the devastation and grief and possibly put people off visiting their loved ones. One person has already stated they have missed visits to a loved one due to anxiety of witnessing or being party to such an altercation."

We understand this is probably not the intention of the person doing this. However, it is a consequence of the behaviour that occurs in the cemetery at times that if may affect mourners and indeed there are reports that it does.

Some people visiting the cemetrey may have circumstances that mean hearing shouting may be terrifying for them. I know somone who visits the cemetery and has PTSD from a severe assault. They are terrified when they hear shouting and experience flashbacks and other related PTSD symptoms. More recently until they reach the grave they are visiting (where they feel safer) they are panicking that they will hear shouting and have indeed left due to a panic attack. Again this may not be the intention of such behaviour but it is a worrying consequence which the counter petition feels should be acknowledged.

The second time behaviour in the cemetery was discussed was in response to the update published by the petition "Edinburgh Council to reinstate "No Dogs" in Cemeteries that was in place pre-Covid" ". 

The "Edinburgh Council to reinstate "No Dogs in Cemeteries that was in place pre-Covid" " petition cited confusion around the counter petition writer stating they felt intimidated and felt others may also feel intimidated to speak out against the ECtRNDiCTWiPPC petition. 

The behaviour was given as one of a few reasons the writer felt intimidated to speak out and felt others may do as well as such behaviour scares them (the writer). Again, this is most likely not the intention of such behaviour but it is a consequence. 

Whilst you may not agree with such feelings you cannot invalidate them and make them not exist - people feel what they feel and are entitled to do so. 

With this in mind the petition does respect your feelings and whether you agree or like it the petition does feel bad for you and sympathises for what you have been through. 

The petition is sorry this is causing you issues, however, it speaks for other mourners in the cemetery and will report on issues that may affect them.

I'm not sure if it was aimed at the petition or myself but you are correct I do not have a full idea of how you feel. I have read things you have written and know a great deal about grief but cannot know exactly how you feel as I am not you. With this in mind I'd ask you to remember you also don't know how myself, the petition writer or indeed petition supporters feel and what we may have been through and take this into consideration with any future correspondence including petition updates."

There has been no response so far at the time of writing this and we are not expecting one given the person stated they wanted their message to be the last one they sent to the individual.