Forum Topic

please no dogs in the lake in chiswick house grounds

Pretty much every day I see dog owners letting their dogs in the lake in chiswick house grounds.Usually right next to the sign that says don't let your dog in the lake.Even if your dog isn't directly harassing the wildlife, the flea and tick chemicals in their fur wash off into the lake and harm the wildlife. Google "dog chemicals and wildlife".In Richmond Park, there is pond specifically set aside for dog swimming. If your dog wants to swim, go there please.thankyou

Simon Pedley ● 61d18 Comments

The lake in Chiswick House IS the Thames. It is controlled by a sluice gate:https://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/2022/12/05/an-inquiry-into-the-lake/

Charlotte Kasner ● 55d

Another bug bear.No one should be running with a dog, on or off lead.Dogs have no control over their movement when forced to run and consequential raised stress and fear levels result in a dog that is much more likely to react aggressively. They have no opportunity for understanding their environment by stopping and sniffing and can miss out on enrichment.There is a huge danger of dogs over heating:https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/excessive-exercise-responsible-for-three-quarters-of-heatstroke-cases-in-dogs-study-showsIt causes problems for handlers of dogs who are on lead when approached by a loose dog over which the owner has little or no control. It is illegal for a dog to be off lead alongside a road. This is covered in the Road Traffic Act 1988, 27 and the Control of Dogs Order 1992. You could also be prosecuted under the Animals Act 1971 if your dog causes an accident as a result of being off lead.

Charlotte Kasner ● 55d

"Lake isn't connected to the Thames so sewage comment isn't relevant".Er, I'm afraid it is though not permanently.The lake gets its water from the Thames and outflows into the Thames. The amount of water that inflows is controlled by a sluice gate that reacts to the Thames' tide height to prevent too much coming in. Some may remember the path by the side of the lake being flooded in small parts by the sluice gate mechanism not working properly a few years back. I am told that much further back that it has flooded CHG almost as far as Staveley Road at very high tides when the sluice gate likewise failed.To control the lake during periods of not very high tides there is a wall that prevents a limited amount of water outflowing. I don't know to what extent the system attempts to "clean" the water inflowing. Not at all, I suspect given it was constructed a long time ago.

John Hickman ● 58d

“ In most cases dogs are another family member and treated accordingly”Ah ok. If all family members normally defecate in streets and parks and don’t clean up their mess then the dog  in the family should be allowed to do likewise.

Steve Taylor ● 58d

Hey back off dogs, they are man’s best friends and most dog owners are responsible and pick up their toilet. Gosh is there anything you won’t attack. In most cases dogs are another family member and treated accordingly who give unconditional love unlike humans.

Jayne Thorburn ● 58d

Jayne, the good news is, we can, in principle, solve both the world's major problems, and the problem of inconsiderate dog owners. Solving one doesn't stop us solving the other one. They are not unconnected though. Dog owners harming the environment is one part of the larger issue of environmental degradation, which definitely is one of the world's major problems.

Simon Pedley ● 58d

Dogs allowed in lakes can get diseases from rat urine in the water.

Janice Evans ● 58d

I wonder what happened to the thought about fining dog walkers who aren’t carrying poo bags and limiting the number of dogs to 3 per walker? Also, we should follow the lead of Spain and fine people who don’t wash their dogs pee from poles and pavements etc. Every dog walker has to prove that they are carrying sufficient water to do the job. But then the Spanish are streaks ahead of the Brits when it comes to street cleaning, litter, recycling and the environment. Hounslow Borough is the third worst in London for litter and filth / flytipping. Not sure how Hounslow rates in dog poo!!

Steve Taylor ● 58d

Perhaps the same people who think it's ok to use our streets and parks as a public toilet for their animals and not clean up afterwards? Seems some of the culprits are revealing themselves here. 

John Hall ● 58d

Who are these arrogant people who think they are above the rules?

Philippa Bond ● 59d

Lake isn't connected to the Thames so sewage comment isn't relevant.  There was an area specifically allowed for dogs to swim, has this been removed?  If so many dog walkers will go to Osterley where it's great to see dogs enjoying themselves in the water.  Sour,joyless lot who don't want to see their dogs having enormous pleasure and fun.

Claire Moran ● 59d

Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria the world is a scary place right now so a dog swimming in the lake is hardly worth a post….forgot Labour government

Jayne Thorburn ● 59d

Yes, I guess you mean that with another 59 children being murdered by the Israelis in Lebanon, the fact that a car had to brake to avoid killing the Labrador owned by a moronic jogger, and causing a motorcycle to crash into the car, pales into comparative insignificance in the grand scheme of things and the car driver shouldn’t have bothered to brake and should have simply killed or injured the dog. That would have avoided people taking umbrage about the fact that a women jogger is so stupid and irresponsible as to have her dog off leash when crossing a busy road.

Steve Taylor ● 59d

Gosh hardly a first world problem talk about intolerant society given all the other far more important challenges we face.

Jayne Thorburn ● 60d

we should clearly ban joggers and cyclists and dog owners from using the pavements

Davey Harris ● 60d

Indeed the lady must be particularly stupid to be jogging with her dog off leash near such a busy road. Totally irresponsible dog owner.

Steve Taylor ● 61d

Talking dogs About an hour ago a car braked hard and a motorbike behind braked hard and had to swerve out to stop going into the back of the car but still caught the back corner of the car and was high sided into the air. This is because a lady was out jogging along the thames tow path between richmond bridge and petersham. She cam off the thames tow path to cross the road and up towards the top of richmond hill. The issue with the accident and the lady jogger in question was that she was jogging with her dog off the leash. She stopped to cross the road, a busy road but the Labrador did not. The dog was lucky,the biker was not so and thus damage to car and bike Not sure its a good idea to be out jogging with your dog of the leash if your crossing roads. I have to say that the lady once getting hold of her dog tried to jog off back onto the tow path but was stopped by quite a few people.

Julian Pavey ● 61d

Hear, hear!Totally irresponsible and not necessarily safe for the dogs either given the amount of sewage being pumped into the Thames. I would add that I also see owners throwing sticks for dogs which is very dangerous.The problem of washing off spot on parasite prophylactics is only likely within 72 hours of application. However, there is evidence to suggest that toxicity is a danger from domestic drainage:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724003103https://www.imperial.ac.uk/grantham/publications/are-urban-areas-hotspots-for-pollution-from-pet-parasiticides.phpThis shouldn't mean that anyone should stop using them though. The danger from ticks is particularly worrying and dog owners should carry tick hooks on walks.

Charlotte Kasner ● 61d