Hi all  

Many thanks to everyone supporting and spreading the word of this petition. 

Each and everyone of you are helping mourners and others who visit cemeteries continue to do so with their, at times required, four legged family member.  

We have reached 1, 200 signatures - you guys are amazing!  

Shall we aim for 1, 500 signatures? Research shows someone needs to see a petition mutiple times before signing so please keep sharing.  

If you don't want dogs banned from cemeteries on 8th August (with or without exemptions) there are other ways to get involved at the end of this post.  

Remember you can email us at any time:  cemeteries4all@yahoo.com   

Today's image refers to the photos shared online by the petition asking for a ban on dogs in all our 43 council cemetries (with exemptions). 6 out of 8, 75%, of the photos they shared showed dogs walkers adhering to current rules - do we need a ban on dogs? *please note* these were the photos at the time of us posting this, it may change.

Below are some of our concerns in relation to a ban on dogs (with or without exemptions) and why we are fighting it. If you agree please help us by getting in touch or seeing the ideas at the end of this post.

• Mourners who wish to take their four legged family member with then to grieve for a lost one without intrusion on their grief as to why they are there
• The deceased themselves who may have loved dogs in life and might like to see them in death
• The no dogs rule pre covid was not enforced or adhered to in at least 2 cemeteries (all if you believe some council officials) - what would this rule actually to do improve the behaviours of the minority of dog rule breakers and what would it do to improve other behaviours not related to dogs. 
• There are many socially accepted reasons one might visit a cemetery in addition to mourning - to visit ancestors, to visit historical graves, for nature, for quiet contemplation, to settle a baby - the list could go on - why should a rule abiding person and their on lead well behaved dog miss out on this for a minority of rules breakers - is this really just?
• The footfall of dogs can be protective and a deterrent to unwanted or illegal behaviour - if you remove this footfall how will you ensure cemetries, their inhabitants and visitors are protected?
• People with dogs may actually help such as cleaning up rubbish or maintaining older graves that are no longer visited by loved ones - if you remove dogs how will you ensure this important help continues?
• People have their dogs with them for many reasons - comfort, feelings of safety, mental health or neurological conditions - should these people effectively be discriminated against for their need for something that may make them feel safe in a secluded environment especially people who are classed as being in a vunerable group?
• Is is porportionate and just to remove a rule abiding majority for a minority of rule breakers in a minority of cemeteries?  - REMEMBER  the people asking for a ban (with exemptions) have recently posted photographs that show a 75% majority (6 out of 8 photos) of dog walkers following current official rules, and that's people trying to show people breaking the rules.

 Let's keep Edinburgh Council Cemeteries4all x  

Other ways you can get involved and share your view:  

Write to your local councillor - List of your local Councillors:   https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0  

Write to committe memebers who will discuss and decide on cemetery rules - List of who is due to be at the committee meeting including committee members:   https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMeetingAttendance.aspx?ID=7281  

Consider giving a written or verbal deputation - Website where further information will be posted in relation to the meetings, we understand around a week before the meeting:   https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=139&MId=7281  

Vote on the Scotsman's article where you can place your vote (it is not binding in any way):   https://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/why-council-will-vote-on-a-ban-dogs-from-all-edinburgh-cemeteries-4679251?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1jiu0nmOB5KkeddVY_d0oDN6U2gt09cUrdWgBgQNW9Nr0N14p8EnUv3gs_aem_n3NYnWSu9Bpe_wP_x0twLw#disqus-comment-section