Dogs at Festival

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: pavane
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:44 AM

You would think that people would realise that dogs are not welcome at HORSE shows either, but people still bring them, and ignore all the signs about leads. A small dog running into the jumping ring can totally destroy someone's chances in the competition.

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: Acorn4
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:43 AM

I think perhaps a good compromise might be allowed on site but on a lead and not in venues. There were certainly some rather loud ones in the concerts at times and a fight between two dogs that I witnessed.

Most dog owners seem responsible enough and have well trained pets, but there are a small minority of those who ,perhaps, just want them as an accessory to go with the 4 x 4.

I wouldn't like to see a complete ban.

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:37 AM

As the owner of a large extremely well behaved labrador/Rhodesian ridgeback cross, I heartily agree with GUEST,not a dog owner. There is absoutely no excuse for bringing an unruly dog into a public area and especially not if there's a risk of it biting someone. And yes, dogs should be kept on leads at all times in confined spaces and away from places where food is being served. That is called responsible dog ownership.

But the vast majority of dogs are well behaved and friendly and do not make nuisances of themselves. Would anyone seriously consider a universal ban on people at festivals because a small minority cause offence by getting drunk?

Rather than banning dogs per se, why not ban the owners of any dogs who are seen not be controlling them properly?

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: .spiderman
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:33 AM

"...and it hadn't cleaned its bum properly" - what a careless dog, perhaps it ran out of loo paper!!

Seriously, I too witnessed a couple of dog fights at Shrewsbury and it was quite frightening. I am a dog lover but unfortunately a minority of dog owners seem unable or unwilling to control their pets. Dogs are not allowed at Cambridge FF and that doesn't seem to put people off from going, it is a very busy and popular festival so it seems that dog owning folk fans are able to find alternative accomodation for their pets when attending festivals.

How do people feel about dogs barking during performances? This certainly happened a few times at Shrewsbury.

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: GUEST,Golightly
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:13 AM

I'd definitely prefer dogs to be kept out of concerts, bars, food areas at festivals, as much for hygiene as for safety. A dog once jumped onto my lap and it hadn't cleaned its bum properly. Imagine that when you haven't got a change of clothes handy!
I hate the thought of dog hair, slobber, even poo, on my chair, clothes etc. Sorry if some people couldn't attend a festival without their dog, but it's not unusual for dogs to barred from public places.

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:06 AM

We have said for years that dogs must be kept on leads at all times. Most people are very good and do comply. We did have to clean up dog muck which was very close to the children's venues.

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:03 AM

My daughter's boyfriend camped next door to a tent whose owners left their dog in their tent at Towersey last year. It was a hot day. When it got out, it went beserk, and clawed and ripped boyfriend's rather expensive tent. I think an apology was proferred, but compensation fell short of the tent's worth.

Ban the lot, I say! Guide dogs excepted, of course.

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: Joseph P
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:00 AM

"How about a "dog's to be kept on a lead at all times" rule (or maybe you have one of them already)? "

Sounds good to me. Dog owners sometimes forget that other people don't like being near dogs. Even if people think their dog is perfectly well behaved, you never know what may happen.

It's sad that common sense doesn't always prevail.

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: GUEST,not a dog owner
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:53 AM

Personally I think it'd be a shame if one regrettable incident caused a blanket ban. I have absolute sympathy with the child & child's family of course and there is no excuse for having an unreliable uncontrolled dog in a public space frequented by vulnerable children. But... so long as dogs are controlled and friendly I like having them around at festivals even though I don't have one myself. I have sevaral festival going friends with dogs who would not be able to go to places like Shrewsbury if they couldn't take their pets along. How about a "dog's to be kept on a lead at all times" rule (or maybe you have one of them already)?

Subject: RE: Dogs at Festival
From: nickp
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:51 AM

There was some fuss with dogs on the 'showground' area at Towersey. No people involved but certainly one worrying dog fight in an area where there were children. There may be some similar thoughts about restrictions. Try contacting them via the website.

Subject: Dogs at Festival
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 09:33 AM

I wonder if I could ask for your help? A child was bitten by a dog at SFF and needed seven stitches. If anyone has any views on dogs at festivals would you be so good as to post on here or the festival blog - over the coming weeks we are going to decided if we should ban them or not. Many thanks for your help.