Let our dogs run free

The New Forest Dog Owners Group has proved its bark is as bad as its bite.

The pressure group set up just six weeks ago by Pauline Ludlow of Brockenhurst, attracted a huge crowd of irate pet owners who packed the ballroom of the Lyndhurst Park Hotel to capacity.

Hordes more waited outside for nearly three hours for a chance to hear the speakers at a second open air meeting at nearby Boltons Bench.

Since the start of the foot and mouth crisis in February, dog owners have been restricted in where and how they can walk their pets.

Although the disinfectant mats are gone and the Forest is officially open again, dogs must still be kept in short leads in the Forest and owners fear that the ban may become permanent.

The vociferous meeting overwhelmingly awarded a mandate to the group to push for an immediate relaxation of restrictions forcing dogs to remain on leads, and to demand that the land managers - the Forestry Commission - ensure their access rights.

Nicola Barker, legal expert for the owners' group, said: "This discrimination against dog owners by the Forestry Commission risks them losing the goodwill developed during the foot-and-mouth crisis.

"The Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act introduced in November was meant to give greater freedom and access, but the Commission can restrict us with or without CROW.

"We fear the Commission wants more control and has used foot and mouth to unfairly target dog owners," she said.

Lymington vet Janine Redman said she recently seen disturbed pets in her clinic which she believed were ill because of lack of exercise.

"I have seen a number of frustrated, hyperactive, destructive and depressed dogs, with their frustrated, depressed owners too. Taking a dog in the Forest on a lead is no fun," she said.

"But the saddest thing is the impression that dogs are a risk. This has led to an outbreak of anti-dog feeling, hostility to dogs and their owners when out in the Forest."

New Forest bird expert Kevin Hughes told the audience: "People who say that dogs are a threat to rare birds are at best wrong, at worst mischief-makers," he said.

"Dogs and walkers help to protect nesting birds by scaring off their natural predators - magpies, crows and cats."

Andy Wistow of the Countryside Agency said he welcomed the owners' meeting as a first stage in the long consultation process towards implementing the CROW Act in this area.

"Restrictions such as keeping dogs on a lead for part of the year may apply, to suit local conditions, but nothing has been decided yet," he said.

Dog obedience trainer Arlene Phillips from New Milton said she feared the clamp down on dogs in the New Forest would be the thin end of the wedge.

"Could this spread nationally, to other forests and areas of common land," she said.

Desmond Swayne, MP , who has received dozens of letters on the dog-walking issue, said he was convinced the CROW Act did not apply to the New Forest.

"It only applied to areas where access is granted as a result of the Act. That does not affect the New Forest. The problem is not CROW but action which might be taken by the Forestry Commission. You are right to act now to safeguard your privileges," he said.

Sarah Roach of Hythe said the New Forest belonged to the people not the Forestry Commission. "They are a government quango responsible to us," she said.

And Roger Clayton of Lymington said the Commission showed "breathtaking arrogance" in its dealings with many groups who wanted access to the Forest for recreation.

"Can the Commission assure us it won't permanently take away our right to walk our dogs off-lead," he said.

Commission spokesman Mike Seddon said he was keen to hear the views of so many Forest residents but he was unable to give any assurances at this stage.

"The local implementation of the CROW Act has not even begun to be discussed. We want to hear your views.