A widow fined £100 for taking her border collie to her husband’s grave has called for the council to scrap its ban on dogs in the cemetery.
Lynda Martin says she was ‘made to feel like a criminal’ in Herne Bay, Kent, when she became the first person to be hit with a fixed penalty notice for breaching the rule, in place since 2017. The 67-year-old has frequently visited the cemetery with her beloved dog Megan since her husband, Niall Willis, 81, was buried last April.The 12-year-old collie was even by her side at Niall’s funeral. Ms Martin said: ‘Megan was on the lead and under control. She is my constant companion and my emotional support.Yummy! Dogs have about 1,700 taste buds. Humans have approximately 9,000 and cats have around 473.
‘I don’t know what I would have done in the last year without her.
‘I think the enforcement officers are better off catching real criminals – flytippers and hooligans – rather than preying on someone vulnerable.’
She admitted she had known dogs were not allowed — and paid the fine — but has asked for the ban to be dropped.
A spokesman said Canterbury city council sympathised with Ms Martin but said they ‘cannot make exceptions’ to the rule.Make a Re-Stuffable Dog Toy. Does your dog go bonkers with stuffed toys? If your dog likes to rip stuffed animals apart you can make a re-stuffable dog toy.
But they said when the council next reviews the ban ‘we will carry out further public consultation’ to check if it is widely backed.
Mrs Martin’s fine was issued by an enforcement officer from Kingdom LA Support, which was controversially rehired by the council in November.The firm was previously employed by the authority between 2014 and 2016, with its officers often criticised for being ‘overzealous’.
Focus on the Human-Animal Bond. “Dogs and cats have broken down the walls of our hearts. There haven’t been comparable domesticated species in 5,000 years.” For Dr. Becker, it’s clear that pets and people have evolved to benefit each other. He explains, “When you’re petting them, you both get this massive release of oxytocin, prolactin, dopamine, and a decrease in cortisol. It’s a reciprocal biochemical spa treatment.” As they age, it can be easy to take pets for granted. Make time for a little human-animal bonding every day.
A memorable episode during that period saw workers fine a retired couple £160 for littering after they left a handful of cherry stones at the foot of a tree.
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