Shop's u-turn on dog ban

8:00am Friday 27th June 2008

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A NEWSAGENT in Trowbridge who banned dogs after a complaint was made has reopened the doors to customers and their canines.

Diamond News in St Thomas Road, has a long tradition of catering for customers with dogs in tow.

For 30 years the store put out bowls of water for the dogs and when new owner Kathy Wyllie took over two-and-a-half years ago, she bought dog biscuits to give out.

There were no complaints for three decades but then Mrs Wyllie received a surprise call from the environmental health department of West Wiltshire District Council.

They were following up on a complaint made by an anonymous member of the public who had complained about dogs being fed in the shop.

Mrs Wyllie, from Trowbridge, said: "The environmental health officers were only doing their job but I was a bit shocked.

"They asked me whether there was any open food in the shop and I told them there wasn't.

"Then they advised me not to feed the dogs in the shop and I had to put a sign up saying no dogs.

"Many of our customers pop in while walking their dogs and some of them get pulled in by their dogs because they know there are treats waiting for them.

"One little terrier Benji comes in every day with his owner for his treat and he whines all the way home if he doesn't get it. It's so sad.

"We've had no complaints for 30 years and then one person makes a fuss.

"After the no dogs sign went up there was uproar. Customers with and without dogs were outraged that this person had spoilt a perfectly innocent thing.

"There was such strong feeling that I have decided to let dogs back in and give the treats to the owners, who can then give them to the dogs. I won't be bullied by one complainant."

A spokesman for the district council said: "The environmental health department has a legal obligation to respond to any complaint received and conduct an investigation, regardless of the level of perceived health risk.

"In many instances, such as this one, no laws are broken. As there is no need for enforcement, environmental health officers will simply make a recommendation and offer advice to all parties involved.

"Thereafter it becomes the responsibility of the business owner to make a decision on how they wish to proceed based upon this advice. We will not get involved in this decision."