Hi all
As always many thanks for your support - let's keep sharing and getting those important signatures.
In relation to yesterday's request about being courteous and polite. We'd very much like to thank the supporter who although had some great points was maybe a little colourful with their expression of these and their support for us. They changed their tact and continued to be supportive but in a more appropriate manner, presumably after seeing our post but we can't be sure. There was some humour towards us (cheeky) but we are grateful for your support and your understanding re expression of views and very sorry if it came across as patronising, you could have taken your support elsewhere but didn’t and we are grateful you stayed with us.
We did not have contact with them as the other petiton presently states although they may change that as they sometimes do after posting - the graph originally titled "petiton comparisons" and their main statement being two examples. We would, however, welcome contact from this supporter as we have noticed they have left reddit and want to check they are ok, especially as this seems such an emotive subject for them.
As discussed over the last few days we have been curious as to what the other petition is doing as there were very few if any updates on their actual work. Following our post asking what they were actually doing they helpfully put up a post relating to some of their work and are promising weekly updates on their work in the future which is great news for not only their supporters but anyone who may be affected by the rule change they are petitioning for.
Although they state they have contacted councillors, MSPs and MPs - we can confirm we have recieved further communication that the Council are the ones to rule on this and they have no plans for a review in the near future. We can also confirm that MSP and MPs may help in terms of setting up or facilitating meetings but they cannot actually change council rules.
Obviously we are unclear on what they are discussing with counsellors, MSPs and MPs but from the ones we/our supporters have contacted the road may have come to the end in terms of changing cemetery rules unless there is a big turn around in who rules on council matters or what the council are currently saying. If this is the case hopefully the council will now be able to carry out it's current plan of cemetery education and other important work without having to deal with requests on rules which were reviewed just over 2 months ago and will be time consuming and costly to us the tax payers to have to communicate about.
As stated before we can only tell people the facts we have to hand including what we are told by officials so we personally cannot guarantee anything, we can just tell you what we know and have been told. We cannot tell you information the other petition has that's behind closed doors as that's theirs to share and we don't know it but we can and as we have been doing will ask questions if we feel we need to.
Although this is obvoiusly a serious and heartfelt matter it is at times very stressful for us and maybe for you too so as an interesting aside - have you ever wondered where the photo on the other petition comes from? We ourselves were fascinated as it's clearly not a cemetery in Edinburgh.
We have only been able to find the image in relation to a couple of articles written about a Barnaby Cemetery in Canada. The main article appears to be an article about a problem with dog fouling in a cemetery which does not allow dogs.
Article on a cemetery where dogs are banned but still use the space:
We find this quite ironic given it is being used for the petition for "Edinburgh Council to reinstate "No Dogs in Cemeteries" rule that was in place pre-Covid" partly to adress dog fouling - which is already legistlated for.
As stated by ourselves and other commentors on the proposed rule change, those that don't obey the current rules re dog fouling are most likely not going obey any rule re not going into a cemetery and any such changes to rules will only be a disadvantage to those who use a cemetrey responsibly, respectfully and inkeeping with the rules.
With this in mind we'd like to cite that we voiced concern early on in this petiton when the other petiton added in a statement of exception for mourners and service dogs that if a "No dogs" (with excemptions) rule was implemented that it may disadvantage mourners and others who may use the space responsibly, respectfully and within the rules - yesterday we reported on one such person who felt very anxious even at the thought of the proposed rule and was worried about visiting their loved ones with their dog even though they'd be allowed. They were worried people might approach them to check if they were visiting a grave and they felt they wouldn't be able to cope with that. They are feeling more reassured now but are still anxious as despite what we have heard from officials the other petiton are hinting that their petition may be bringing about change.
Another disadvantage may be to those who need the unique enviroment a cemetrey offers. A person has stated they have autism and CPTSD and therefore can find public spaces very difficult. They have on occassion walked their dog respectfully and following rules in a cemetrey. If the other petition got it's rules changed then this person and others like them would have nowhere to go on days they can't cope with the wider world. In this day and age should we not offer support, understanding and a safe place for people rather than ban them from their place of solace? Whatever happened to caring for other people and being "in this together"?
Talking of "in this together", the tagline from covid, we wonder what the adherence to the "No dogs" rule that was in place pre-covid actually was? What were the stats on dog fouling in the cemetery and stats on stealing/destruction of teddies? Would these even be comparable to now given what appears to be a massive increase in dog ownership since covid? Would any official or unofficial stats be comparable given one person has been unofficially monitoring and presumably complaining to the council post covid but not pre-covid?
Before we go for today we would like to apologise if at times our words are incorrectly spelled, grammar and punctuation aren't correct and even for the length of posts. Being dyslexic makes writing difficult and these are many common errors someone with dyslexia can make. We go over and over our posts before publishing to try and get them correct but at times things do slip through as highlighted when we are partially quoted by the other petition who write (sic) next to misspelled words. Please note we are trying very hard and we personally feel if you can understand what we mean and the message is getting out there that's the most important thing.
Thanks again for your support and let's keep sharing the petition!