Forestry and Land Scotland steps up campaign for responsible dog walking
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is urging dog owners to be extra vigilant when choosing a dog sitter, following a series of incidents involving irresponsible professional dog walkers in East Dunbartonshire.
Some professional sitters walk too many dogs at the one time and cannot control them – or clean up after them.
A Spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland said:
“Unfortunately an increasing number of incidents are being reported to us from the Lennox Forest area relating to irresponsible dog walking. This includes reports of some professional dog walkers taking out up to 20 dogs at a time, when The Dogs Trust recommend no more than four dogs per walker!
“We would urge owners looking to make use of dog walking services to ask the individual how many dogs they walk at one time, how they transport the animals and whether or not they have emergency procedures in place should dogs in their care get lost or injured.
“These three questions will enable owners to determine if their dog will be safe and well looked after – and will also help cut down on the number of incidents being reported to us.”
Forestry and Land Scotland and East Dunbartonshire Council’s community safety team have produced a ‘Code of Conduct’ that aims to educate and support dog walkers and owners to use woodland sites responsibly and help keep East Dunbartonshire’s woodlands and greenspaces safe and tidy for all to enjoy.
Notes to editors
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Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
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Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 07785 527590 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.