Dogs and Cwm Rhaeadr

We’ve had a comment in the “Guestbook” page from Geraint Lewis complaining about local dogs being allowed to foul the All Abilities Trail:

“On a recent family visit to Cwm Raeader we were most dissapointed to witness locals walking dogs (off their leads) along the designated disabled pathway, dogmess in evidence.  On return to the car park we noticed that it was clearly signed at the start of the walk -no dogs, obviously this does not apply to some.There are acres of main pathways that are dog accessible so why use the disabled path?

You have a wonderfull facility there  provided for the enjoyment of everyone,it will be a pity if it is allowed to take on the look of an inner city back allyway.

Could dog walkers please show a little more consideration to disabled facilities.”

This seems like a fair point – does anyone want to argue against him?

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3 Responses to Dogs and Cwm Rhaeadr

  1. Mr Marsh says:

    I find the above two posts of interest.
    On Sunday 30th March at approximately 9.00 my wife and I went for an early morning walk at Cwm Rhaeadr
    We usually walk the lower path (referred to above as the disabled path) within 200yds of the trail start we were rushed at by two yapping dogs, one small one large, both dogs jumped up at my wife marking her clothing from their muddy paws.
    The owner (a local lady who satisfyingly we now know a little more about) was so far away that I doubt she was aware of the incident. I was most cross as the dogs were out of her sight and in being so, out of her control, if it had happened to anyone elderly a child or heaven forbid a lesser able person the dog could have knocked them over with more serious consequence.
    When within ear shot of the owner I pointed out that dogs were allowed on that particular path. Her arrogant response ‘I walk my dogs here every day’ (doesn’t that sound familiar?) no apology or interest whatsoever in the damage done to my wife’s clothing, she even suggested that the dirt/mud on my wife’s clothing could be as a result of her having fallen over. I couldn’t believe my ears. I walked back down the path to where she was getting into her car (number plate noted for future reference) I pointed out the notice displayed banning dogs on the path, she sarcastically shouted something like ‘enjoy your walk’ that was our intention until this annoying incident.
    Is it too much to ask that people conform to a written request and keep dogs off one small section of a pathway within a vast open to all forest? The request is there to stop dogs messing on the pathway and to allow lesser fit/disabled folks to have a safe, enjoyable outdoor experience.
    I guess arrogance, bad manners and indifference to the plight of others less able are common place in large cities, such a pity that trait has arrived in rural Wales.
    Unlike Mrs Brennen we will continue to enjoy our walks in Cwm Rhaeadr, the dog owner concerned can be rest assured the path is a facility provided for all, not just her and her dogs.
    Note! We are not dog haters; we have owned and loved many dogs in the past.
    David Marsh –Llangadog.

    • Diana Osborne says:

      In answer to Mr. Marsh:

      I am shocked and dismayed at the allegations made by this man.
      First of all my dogs are not “yapping dogs”! If my dog did jump up at Mrs Marsh then I am truly sorry for his behaviour, ( he is a rescue dog and has been kenneled for 8 years of his life and trying to teach an old dog new tricks can be very difficult but, i am persevering). I did not have a chance to talk to Mrs. Marsh because she walked away, probably embarrassed by her husbands very abusive behaviour. He persisted in following me back to my car shouting at me. I felt very intimidated and frightened by his behaviour and I am well aware of his comments quote: “a local lady who satisfyingly we now know a little more about”. I find this comment very threatening and intimidating and I will report any such stalking or further abuse to the police!
      I do walk my dogs every day in the forestry and try to go early so as avoid too many people. If I had seen Mr. & Mrs. Marsh sooner I would have put my dog on his lead but, they were around a corner out of sight before I could grab the dog.I only use a small part of the said path as a short cut to another as do a lot of dog owners. ( I wonder what he would have said if he had been confronted with horses or cyclist as I have encountered on the same path!) I have walked dogs and worked on the timber with my now, ex. husband in Cwm Raeadr Forestry on and of now for the past 40 years and I have never encountered such abuse!
      I take carrier bags around with me to collect litter left behind by visitors and I deal with any mess that my dogs make, because I don’t like to see it either!

  2. As an infrequent visitor to Cwm Rhaeadr I am not best placed to make a constructive comment on the situation. However! I can justifiably comment on a visit earlier this year. Whilst enjoying a walk on the all ability path my young daughters and I were confronted by 4/5 dogs, neither of them harnessed and all excited to say the least, quite concerning when walking youngsters who are a little apprehensive about bounding dogs. OK, I could not and would not describe them as threatening. When mentioned to the two ladies (who were walking a good 50 yards behind and not in control of the dogs) that I didn’t think dogs were allowed on that particular pathway, I got a blunt ‘we walk our dogs here every day’ from that comment I assume these where local folk.
    I would also agree with the original poster/complainant that dog mess was in evidence at the very start of the designated path and in other places along the way.
    I doubt anything will make these folks change their ways, their attitude seems to be that because they walk the pathway frequently it’s their right to disregard any requests or regulations that are clearly displayed at the start of the walk.
    Of course these folks have every right to walk their dogs and enjoy the forest as much as anyone else but as previously asked, why on the designated all ability (disabled) path that clearly stipulates ‘no dogs’
    One cannot expect Forest Enterprise to police the situation it requires dog walkers be they local or visitors to show a bit of consideration towards others and display basic common sense when walking unleashed dogs.
    Result of the above encounter? As a family we have found a less stress full environment to enjoy our occasional family walks, no doubt we will not be missed.

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