News Centre

Dog owners normally resort to taking their pet for a walk or playing fetch with a stick at the local park for exercise.

However, Britain’s first play park for dogs was recently unveiled in Bishop’s Stortford. Featuring hurdles, tunnels, ramps, hoops and poles for the local dogs and their owners to enjoy, it has attracted some criticism.

The park was given the go-ahead by East Herts Tory-run district council, and the equipment for it cost the council £7,000. Costs soon soared to £15,000 following installation and fees for officers’ time.

Emma Boon, a spokesperson for the Taxpayer’s Alliance, said:

“The local council must have gone barking mad to spend thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ cash on this canine attraction.

“Of course dog owners should exercise their pets as part of looking after them but a run around the park should be sufficient.

“It is not the job of the council to provide facilities for owners to play with their dogs and it certainly isn’t a priority at a time when money is tight and the council should be making spending cuts.”

The opening of the dog’s play park comes just after a recent report from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, which showed that dog obesity was increasing across the UK.

The charity warned that unless owners began to take more responsibility for their pets’ health, 50 per cent of dogs within the UK will be obese within five years.

It pointed out that owners would feel the benefit of exercising their pet themselves, and that helping your dog to stay trim reduces the risk illnesses such as heart disease. It would also reduce the number of unnecessary claims on owners’ pet dog insurance.

Many residents have voiced their disapproval at the exercise park. Many are fearful that it will be vandalised anyway.

However, the local council have stood by their decision to construct the facility. Cllr Linda Haysey pointed out that the park was designed specifically to enable owners and their dogs keep active, and it was a great way for owners to meet up and socialise.