Dog walkers urged to heed safety warnings

Thursday, 4 March 2010 17:30

Dog walkers have been urged to heed a safety warning, by the Highland Council.

Those tempted to take their pet dogs to the Newtonhill Community Woodland in Caithness are being encouraged to abandon any plans to visit the site, which was closed in March 2008.

The former landfill site, where evidence of contaminants like asbestos has been found, was declared off-limits as a precautionary measure two years ago.

However, a section of a fence near the site's entrance has been continually broken since the closure.

Dieter Tuerlinckx, the Highland Council's east Caithness countryside ranger, said that while he realised the site's closure was a blow to the community, people still needed to respect the decision.

Mr Tuerlinckx said: "Despite many clear notices put up by the council some people are still entering the woodland to walk their dogs on a daily basis."

But people may still be advised to exercise their pets - albeit safely - as fog walking can be a way of calming overly energetic canines, according to PeoplePets.com's resident expert.

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Posted by Vickie