Concerns over dogs being let off leads in Renfrewshire cemeteries
Under Renfrewshire Council rules, dogs are allowed within the sites but must be accompanied by their owner and always kept on a lead.
However, Councillor Iain McMillan, a Labour representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, confirmed he has been contacted about the conduct at Wednesday's meeting.
He said: 'One of the big issues I've been getting recently, representing an area that's got two cemeteries in it, is the number of dogs that owners just let off the lead.
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'It's very, very disrespectful in my opinion.
'I don't have a problem with dogs going into cemeteries but they need to be under control and for me that means being on a lead.
'When people actually question people or say to them, 'really you should keep your dog on a lead,' they're usually met with a whole load of barrage of abuse which I think is pretty poor as well.'
It comes after the local authority responded to a request for further information in relation to a petition on the topic.
The appeal has called for legislation making it an offence – one which would be punishable by an on-the-spot fine – to exercise a dog in a cemetery.
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A report, which was considered at the board, explained: 'The service has also responded to a request for further information from the Scottish Government in relation to Petition PE2087.
'The request for information specifically relates to the management of cemeteries and the regulation of dogs within them.
'Under Renfrewshire Councils management rules, section 9.2 and section 5.2 of the cemetery management policy permit dogs within cemeteries, provided they are accompanied by their owner and always kept on a lead.
'Information has been supplied in relation to the request.'
Councillor Michelle Campbell, board convener and an SNP representative for Erskine and Inchinnan, told Councillor McMillan: 'You're absolutely right about dog ownership.
'Using our open spaces is very important for everyone in our communities and we shouldn't look to exclude anyone but it has to be that you're respectful of everyone at the same time.'
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