Everyone seems to have one. I know they haven’t, but there are so many more around since Covid you feel a bit odd walking down Thirlmere not holding a lead. But has the village changed at all because of the growth?
According to our Parish Clerk, dog owners who use the local parks are, in the vast majority of cases, responsible and conscientiously pick up after their dogs. (Remember you can be fined for not only failing to pick up after your dog, but also for not having a poo bag with you.) I was told that there are a few offenders who choose to exercise their dogs either early morning or late evening who don’t, but they are a tiny minority. As everyone entering the parks can see from the large signs, a dog should be on a lead at all times although some owners of smaller breeds, which return to the command ‘Heel’, allow them to run free. However, larger dogs that could frighten others using the area, especially children or smaller dogs, should always be on a lead.
The fenced-off children’s play areas are taboo to dogs, for health and safety reasons, and this taboo is almost 100% observed. At present the King George V, Millennium and Mill Lane parks are all under the control of the Parish Council. The only one outstanding is the Willow Road Play Area and this too will shortly be adopted. Once this has occurred there will be a sign telling dog owners their animals should be on leads here too.
Because some dog owners are keen to let their dogs off the lead, a service has developed to help them – Run Free Dog Fields. There are two near Barrow – Ryecroft Run Free Dog Field in Cotes Road, and Soar Valley K9 Secluded Retreat, K9 / ca–nine (!) in Sileby Road. This is the Sileby Road linking Mountsorrel to Sileby which becomes Mountsorrel Lane.
Caroline Bowles runs the Ryecroft Dog Field at Ryecroft Farm and she told me that her field is open from 7am to 7pm in winter and from 6am to 10pm in summer. It’s always well drained; the grass is kept short; there’s water; a few dog toys are left around and it’s completely secure. Over the many years of running the field not one dog has escaped, not even Caroline’s own King Charles spaniels, which given the chance, are super escapees. Caroline’s customers are mostly from Barrow or Loughborough and she likes to get to know both the dogs and their owners. Having been in the dog world for many years she is vigilant about the dogs being well cared for and in good health before using the field. Before arriving at the farm, you must pre-register through her Facebook page: Ryecroft Run Free - Dog Field. You pay through Paypal in advance or with cash on the day. Charges vary relating to the number of dogs you bring and the time you wish to spend there. The basic rate is £6.00 per half hour – for up to two dogs – or ten pounds an hour. If you come every day, as one owner does, as she regards this field as her ‘little piece of heaven’, there’s a discount.
People bring their dogs for a variety of reasons secure in the knowledge that there won’t be any other dogs in the field at the time. Owners like to train their dogs and puppies here, bring them to gain confidence, or simply to let them have a wonderful run to burn off energy.
The second Dog Free Run near to us is Soar Valley K9 Secluded Retreat. The land is owned privately, has never been farmed and is composed of two paddocks. The paddocks are completely secure and used by a wide range of dog owners. As with Ryecroft, you must get in touch first, this time via email soarvalley.k9@outlook.com or by ringing 07921 136975. I rang, and spoke to Rachael Bailey who told me that their Run Free Dog Field policy is to be as inclusive as possible so XL Bullies can use the site. They have public liability insurance. The basic charges are, for a maximum of two dogs, £6.00 for half an hour or £11.00 for an hour. More dogs mean a higher price. As with Ryecroft, you book your time and the fields are for your use alone. They are used by individual owners, dog walkers, owners of Romanian rescue dogs or those freed from a life in cages in China. The fields are very near to The Waterside Inn so you can walk to this dog friendly pub afterwards for a drink.
Feather ‘n’ Fur is dog friendly too! I spoke to Graeme Fisher in his shop at 87 Babington Road (Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ featherandfurpetsupplies) and he told me his main trade was catering for the needs of dog owners; next came feeding wild birds and cats. Dog owners come for his own high-quality brand of dog food called Babingtons which is so popular they sell a ton of it every fortnight. It’s all good stuff, no nasties, and cheaper than the more well-advertised brands. As well as dog food, his shop is full of doggy necessities like leads, coats, toys and includes a wide range of treats from the well-known Pet Munchies to antlers, buffalo trachea and furry rabbits’ ears. These, I learnt, are very good at getting hook worm out of your dog.
So, has the village changed because of there being more dogs around? No, not really, owners are responsible so there isn’t a lot more dog muck on the pavements or in the parks. Long may it last!
Gaynor Barton