MADAM, Your correspondents have raised the matter of dog fouling several times in recent weeks, but they all appear to have overlooked an additional and very pressing cause for concern.
I refer to the potential dangers to a number of local dog owners, who, although perhaps not brain-dead in the clinical sense of the term, are clearly far too stupid to be allowed out unsupervised.
This photo was taken a few days ago at a pleasant spot on the John Kyrle Circular Walk. The white object, which was hanging brightly at eye level like some repulsive Christmas bauble, is a plastic bag full of dog faeces. The footpaths around Ross are dotted with such things – sometimes on the ground, where they get trodden on, and sometimes in the hedges, where they hang for months.
It's impossible to believe that this could be the work of people with even the smallest measure of brainpower. Even I, on a good day, can understand that faeces wrapped in plastic are protected from sunshine and rain, and will remain a hazard for much longer than if merely left open to the air.
But never mind the risk these bags pose to children, the environmental impact of the plastic, or what visitors to the town might interpret as contempt for what is one of the loveliest areas of England. No, the fact of the matter is this: these tragically boneheaded dog owners are a danger to themselves (and, no doubt, their animals), and they must be helped. We've read about Herefordshire Council's dog wardens, but surely they're ill equipped to deal with mental health issues?
Simon Cropper, Ross