Exeter dog owner in 'pet cemetery' row
CONCERNS have been raised after a resident allegedly witnessed a neighbour hire a digger and bury a dog on recreational land near her garden.
Sarah Bradley claims that Lesley Phillips, of Bourn Rise, Pinhoe, buried the greyhound in a small field backing on to nine houses in the street.
The plot of land, which was left over when the houses were built almost 30 years ago, was included in residents’ deeds.
They are all responsible for maintaining and caring for the land, which they can use for recreational purposes.
Miss Bradley, whose garden backs onto the field, said she shocked that a digger was used to bury a dog at the picturesque site.
Miss Bradley said she approached Ms Phillips when she realised there was a digger in the field and that a huge hole had been dug not far from her back gate.
She said Ms Phillips had told her she had permission from the landowner and that it was within her rights to bury her dog at the site.
Miss Bradley, 36, said: “She seems to think it is acceptable to go and do that.
“She has her own garden that she could have buried her dog in. She seems to have buried her dog in the furthest point away from where she lives. Environmentally, it’s not the right thing to do, and I’m a bit shocked. It’s not a huge piece of land.
“There are 20 of us in the deeds of the property and what if we all had animals and all chose to bury them there?
“She didn’t ask any of us if it would be okay to do it.
“I don’t know how far down she has buried the dog.
“I think it is unreasonable — I am concerned anything could dig the dog up.”
In a letter to neighbours calling for their support, Miss Bradley said: “What if we all had animals and buried them there? What did the dog die from?
“Are we now accepting that the recreational ground be used as a pet cemetery?”
She said she felt the dog should either be cremated or buried on Ms Phillip’s own property.
Ms Phillips is a member of the charity Greyhound Rescue West of England, which helps rehabilitate and rehouse dogs who have been abandoned once their racing days are over. She owns two greyhounds, including a replacement for the dog that died.
A spokesman for Exeter City Council’s environmental health team confirmed there was no law preventing people from burying pets on private land.
Ms Phillips declined to comment when approached by the Echo.
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by Andrew Leckenby, bd19 4dr
Thursday, February 11 2010, 4:48PM
“SKoM I am sure the point Claire is trying to make is that soil by its very nature is composed of new, old and ancient decomposed matter not to mention faeces from a myriad of species, Animal Vegetable and Mineral in fact it is just plain 'dirty'”
by M. Greenwood, Barnstaple
Thursday, February 11 2010, 4:45PM
“Absolutely well said Andrew Leckenby. I know who i would rather have as a neighbour and that is Ms P! and her wonderful greyhounds that dont go swinging off trees and setting fire to things..
Ruth you are a nasty piece of work as are all you others that have bullied Ms. P on here -karma will have its way with you. we reep what we sow - and you are sowing very bad seeds.”
by SKoM, Cullompton
Thursday, February 11 2010, 4:15PM
“Neither Claire, they generally get eaten by scavengers.
Is this really 'common land'? Do the deeds grant shared ownership or merely shared maintenance with the ownership vested elsewhere - not a good arrangement.”
by Andrew Leckenby, yorks
Thursday, February 11 2010, 4:03PM
“Ruth, that shows how much you know about anything, dog license? maybe 25 years ago. As for the neighbours complaining about mrs.P trying to put out a bonfire, stopping fireworks and children ion swings, wtf, you moan about her burying an animal in a natural enviroment and what is more natural than Dust to Dust, but are angry because she doesn't want you to have a bonfire outside her house whilst you are playing with explosives and your offspring are terrorising the neighbourhood wrecking trees with swings??? Know who I would rather live next to. As for the dog poo, is MrsP the owner of every dog or animal in your area, or just the one you like to blame?”
by Ruth, Exeter
Thursday, February 11 2010, 3:32PM
“Claire from S Devon. I think you are missing the point. A dog is not a wild animal the owner has certain responsibilites that is why we have to have a dog licence. I am still concerned that a digger was needed to bury one dog, I am convinced there is more than one dog buried there.”
by Emma, Exeter
Thursday, February 11 2010, 2:33PM
“I don't think it is Ms P who is being BULLIED, sounds like the other way around! Cutting down ropes so that children can't play...now that is bullying. If she loved the dog so much she wouldn't have buried it the way she did and it would be on her own land. I assume Maria that you would be happy for Mrs P to leave dog poo outside your house for your children or grandchildren to step in?”
by claire, s.devon
Thursday, February 11 2010, 2:23PM
“Aren't people in this day and age sad what do they think happens to foxes.. badgers etc etc that die? Are they taken away by the cremation fairy or do they just rot and decompose where they fell, in woods and common land. From the sound of it the lady who buried her dog went about it in a very responsible manner getting a digger in to make sure it was buried deep enough, maybe she couldn't get the digger into her own garden?”
by Ruth, Exeter
Thursday, February 11 2010, 12:52PM
“If she loved this dog so much how come she didn't bury it in her own back yard, and what about her burying another dog a few years back behind the garages. My dog loves the beach maybe I should bury him there when he passes away. We shouldn't be allowed to bury anything any where other than on our own property.”
by Maria, exeter
Thursday, February 11 2010, 10:45AM
“Leslie sounds like a person who puts herself out to help these abused dogs - I think this lady should be left alone to grieve for her loss - how absolutely disgusting that she is being BULLIED at this very sad time - the people that have left negative comments should be ashamed of themselves.
i dont blame her for not commenting - why should she buy into these people that live in their very narrow selfish minds - she obviously comes from a place of heart - if more people came into their hearts - the world would be a better place.”
by Ruth, Exeter
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 4:56PM
“Are we sure it is just one dog? I could bury a dog with just a shovel. A digger does seem over the top for one dog. Could there be more than one dog? Are the people sure it's a dog and not something else? Makes you wonder!!”