first mate

I think that word needs to spread amongst the considerable dog owning community and support from sympathetic councillors organised, as well as some kind of protest- perhaps an online protest could be organised and forwarded to Southwark? Since James Barber has already commented on this thread perhaps he could suggest a way forward? I suspect there will be growing concern about what appears to be, as the last poster calls it, "a done deal". I know that Boosboss is rather good at this sort of thing and perhaps he will have some ideas too.

mako, no need the limits are already there in law, it only needs a park warden to apprise themsleves of the law, I believe.

I agree, responsible ownership is a must, just like responsible parenting, cycling etc.. Could Southwark be persuaded to allow some educational training classes for dog owners, or even would-be owners, to take place in the park? They always seem to say it is not possible but give no clear reason why. If other pursuits like fitness training (paid for by groups of clients) as well as alternative educational establishments are allowed to make use of the park, I cannot see why dog training should not be added to the list.

I also managed it second time. On of the first and most leading questions goes something like "do you think there are any dog-related issues in the park?" I have deliberately interpreted this as "do I think there is an increase in dog related issues", and so have answered no. For some people, the mere presence of a dog on lead and totally under control, would be an issue, so I think this question is deeply flawed and will lead to very misleading results. The survey is heavily biased from the start. How would we answer if we were asked "do you think there are people -related issues in the park" or replace people with children, cyclists...

FWIW, I have just tried to access the form, but you cannot do so unless you sign in or register with Southwark, even though it states that you can just click and access the form without doing either. James Barber, is there any way you could get the council to rectify this? I imagine that not everyone will want to sign up or register with the council online. I also wonder how the many elderly dog owners, who may not necessarily be online, are to be heard in this survey? The whole thing seems dodgy to say the least

I'm deeply sceptical about this and echo boosboss observation in that there has been no visible increase in so-called dog incidents, that I have noticed, as a regular day in day out park user. I think that we should demand context and detail from the council. How is a "dog incident" defined; what are the figures and what data are those figures being compared with? There is a perception, albeit misguided, that there is a deeply anti-dog contingent within the council, and this rather odd survey does nothing to change one's mind about that. The greatest damage I have observed in the park to date has been done by humans- tree branches being ripped down (sorry, but I've seen kids doing this a lot); grafitti on the japanese summerhouse that had to be cleaned (at what expense) only recently. If there have been incidents under the DDA these will have been logged- so let's see the data. If we are talking about dog poo, again I would like to see the data. Southwark does seem to be trying to push this one hard and I wonder if they have an agenda they are not admitting to? There is already one alternative school setting up on Peckham Rye, they will be using the park for education purposes. No problem with that, but it is known that schools are short on playing fields and one can imagine that more schools will want to use the park for sports during the week- off lead dogs will get in the way, won't they? Southwark are so keen to get dogs out of the parks and yet show an absolute failure to deal with the real danger which is dogs off lead on the public streets- why not put as much energy into that? I believe the reason is possibly because Southwark need to use the park space to replace the school playing fields that were sold off- with a burgeoning population of children on the way they have to do something. Offlead dogs are just inconvenient. I think Southwark will have a battle on their hands, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is quite clear that the needs of domestic animals must be met and the majority of dogs require daily, offlead exercise. For those who already own dogs these control orders would be a massive and unjustified imposition. For what it is worth, a number of trainer have, over the years, approached Southwark to give weekly dog training classes in some of the parks- but there's always a reason why this cannot happen. Surely it's a no-brainer, if Southwark wants across the board, good dog ownership, at least allow some training and education to be given in the parks. The dogs would always be on a lead, so why not...?

Thanks to everyone for their interest. I am pleased to say that the RSPCA are now fully involved and they are monitoring the situation. They have visited the owners who have been read the riot act and have the option to care for the dog properly or to rehome it and the RSPCA will supervise the process of rehoming as well as ongoing care under the custody of the current owners. The RSPCA are also in contact with the landlords who are now fully aware of what is going on. If it comes to it, there will be no problem rehoming the little dog as she is an absolute sweetheart.

Nothing yet from RSPCA, but I'm monitoring the situation and may have a way to sort it.

I had a call from the RSPCA asking me to contact them for an update, which I did and I am now waiting for the Inpector dealing with the case to call me back.

peristalsis, another local also heard her whining and yelping and said it had started yesterday afternoon, much earlier than I had heard it. The owners did not show until late morning/luchtime today- so yes, bar our intervention, she'd been alone in an airless room without water for around 24 hrs- but even 12 hrs is way too long. Anyhow, I don't want to get on my high horse, I just want to make sure the dog is okay, and that is what I'm focussing on.

Thanks everyone for your support. The 'owners' have finally returned but there is an ongoing discussion between us about the dog and her future. There are complicating factors, which I cannot post and I need to find out more. I only hope that this little dog is still around tonight. The RSPCA have still not shown up. I have had a number of conversations with the police, who felt unable to intervene. Southwark noise was, obviously, only really interested in the decibels and impact on my ears. Both said this was a matter for the RSPCA. I have also left messages with the landlord and with Catch 22, neither has replied. All this gives an interesting insight into how things work or rather don't work. As ever, self initiative is really the only option. Edited to say, did I really just post 'self initiative'- I must be tired!

She is panting heavily, as dogs do when they are very distressed, plus the room is very hot. She is also totally exhausted and everytime I go in she slides to the floor and sleeps for a few secs and then jerks awake. Dogs are highly social animals, to put her into solitary like this for now 24 hours (without water, if I hadn't been there)is incredibly cruel. I hope the local RSPCA are reading this. I've put in 5 long calls since yesterday evening and still no sign of them. Come on RSPCA, a dog is suffering here, what's the delay? I have taken photos of the dog, the room and other rooms with dog shit in them, just to have something on the record.

CORRECTION the dog is a bitch.. Yes, I have given her fresh water. She does not look badly cared for, which makes her current set up all the stranger. I can easily access her and have been popping in and out. Another call to RSPCA and have been advised in the strongest terms to leave her, and I quote, " or we'll having nothing to investigate, I know it sounds cruel but..." So, as it stands, I've had a call from the RSPCA call centre and they say an officer will investigate, but no time given. I will continue to monitor her myself over the next few hours. Again, if anyone recognises the description of this dog please say. She is lovely and really friendly.

Ok, every conceivable person has been called. Working under my own steam and with the help of another neighbour, who lives even closer to the dog, I have managed to locate and see it. It is a tiny intact, Jack Russell Male, mostly white but with tan on head. The dog is being kept in the rooms above Iceland. The room it is in has nothing in it and is near derelict- it had been left since yesterday afternoon with some dry biscuits but no water, no bedding nada. But there are a few posion bait boxes in the room! The dog is friendly and was desperate for water and to get out of the room. It is highly distressed and panting. The only person I could find living in the block said she dod not know who the dog belonged to. There is a whole series of empty, derelict rooms, many have dog shit in them. I have called the RSPCA and at last they seem to think this might be worth looking at. I cannot take the dog as this might constitute theft, so I am currently waiting in my house trying to work, listening to it yelping, hoping the RSPCA turn up soon. All I can do is keep popping in and checking on it. I wnated to take it away with and would keep it until the RSPCA i/d the owners, but was advised not to. If anyone recognises the description of this dog please let me know. If the dog is owned by someone 'living' in the building it is a very strange way to treat an animal you care about- the lack of water is shameful.

Well, it's morning, the dog/puppy is still yelping and has been throughout the night. The noise seems to be coming from the office/flats above Iceland. Judging by a sign on the door an organisation called Catch 22 may be using parts of the building. The RSPCA say there is nothing they can do without sight of the dog. Will try Southwark next.

silverfox, It's really not that difficult to sense when a dog is in distress, the type of vocalisation is different. Whatever you think of that observation, it's probably fair to say that a dog that barks for three hours straight is not having fun. Moreover, it's not fun for the people, like me, who can hear and cannot sleep as a result. And yes, it's still going on.

Yes, that had occurred to me as well, but I think separation anxiety is the most likely explanation and many owners are often unaware. At the very least perhaps someone who knows them and sees this can have a word.

Can't access front door, though have tried.These houses are approx behind Willis B on Lordhsip Lane. The design is such that the only access is up an alleyway off Ashbourne Grove, where a short row of houses are accessed through the garden. All the gardens have high fences and locked gates. I've tried knocking, calling out- no response.

It's nearly 12pm- the dog is hysterical. I hope the owners are home soon. It is heartbreaking to hear an animal like this.

The dog is sounding increasingly desperate........

Yes, that is my concern. What is frustrating is that I can hear the dog, but there is no way of getting to it. I'm hoping that someone who knows of the dog reads this and is able to contact the owners.

For the last hour, at least, a dog has been distress barking and whining. The noise is coming from a bunch of houses up an alleyway off Ashbourne Grove. The houses are behind the post office etc.. The gardens back on to the alleyway and are all fenced and gated, so no way in. I have been out twice to check gates and doorbells with no luck. Two police out on the beat tried too, but no way in and cannot access doors to knock on. Does anyone know of a dog that lives in these houses and any way of contacting the owner/owners? The dog sounds really distressed and frankly it's keeping me awake.

Until your cats become old and infirm and then they become the fox's prey. Nature- it's all swings and roundabouts. In culling foxes one would need to know the population and then what the ideal population is. A total wipeout would probably mean proliferation of other'vermin'.

malambu, With your mother the signs were clear that she would not recover and as she was not conscious the decision to withdraw nutrition and fluids would make sense. I think the LCP has been used with patients who are conscious and who request fluids but have been refused them. It seems to me that the issue is not with the LCP so much as a lack of training by some who have used it incorrectly.

I stand corrected. The OP was visited by a bolder, travelling rat.