first mate

My blue wheelie bin has not been emptied since it was delivered- now it is nearly overflowing. What a cockup!

Let us know if Marnie is found and good luck.

Shush now.

Why do you appear to have a problem with this? It's a simple plea to ask people to keep their eyes peeled for a lost dog- taken under very unpleasant circumstances. The dog was part of a family, the owners are upset. They would like to get their dog back, safe and sound. It doesn't seem to be of interest or matter to you. Point taken- quite possibly you don't care. Can we move on now and get of the original poster's case.

Lilly123, I do hope that the owners find Marnie- very distressing to have a dog taken from you like that. Of course, it takes a dog owner or someone with a modicum of empathy to understand just how upsetting this experience would be and how one would be worrying about what had happened to the dog. Perhaps other posters simply cannot make that leap of imagination. I don't see how worrying about a pet that has been taken from you under violent circumstances is in the least way sentimental- odd reaction. Fingers crossed for Marnie.

Sue, I read it here http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/30/could-amanda-knox-have-an-autism-spectrum-disorder As you see, plenty of outraged reactions, but it gave me pause for thought. Whatever way you look at it, her behaviour was odd.

It has been suggested that Knox is somewhere on the autism/aspergers spectrum. Apparently, this would account for her inappropriate behavior under the circs- doing the splits and cartwheels functioned as some kind of stress buster. She's also been described as very bright but also goofy, geeky and extremely naive. The penchant for 'wild sex' is also consistent with the above and may be a trait with high-functioning female aspergics. Sorry, if this offends anyone, I am not endorsing this simply passing one rationale for behavior which many viewed as odd and damning.

If the dogs are barking non-stop for three hours at a time that indicates that they are not getting enough interaction etc.. and it is potentially an animal welfare issue. I assume that you have approached the neighbours and asked them why the dogs are being left to bark for so long and explain that it is distressing. If there is no joy I would advise asking Southwark Council to come out an hear it for themselves- I would also record it. I'm not sure that the RSPCA will be of much help in this instance, it would only be if the dogs were being kept outside without food or water that it might become a neglect issue. Good luck and I hope you can get it sorted.

I have to say that I let my dog have a 5-10 minute bark in the evening- he likes to see what other dogs are out there and they all generally join in briefly, but I would not let it go on for longer than that. I do think dogs get a buzz out of barking, rather like people yelling at football matches. I think fine to let them do a little bit but if you let it go on it can turn into a bad habit. In terms of the original poster, I'm not sure what to believe at the moment.

SC, Unfortunately, as I was told by Southwark recycling yesterday, they only do the brown bin in a half size, none of the others. If we are going back to weekly collections I too would make do with a blue box, if twice weekly I'd need a half-size blue bin, but they don't do those. I've always put my garden waste in the brown bags for collection and so never needed a bin- some weeks there'd be far too much anyway and other weeks none, so brown bin was a waste of space. Now they've introduced this brown food caddy thing I have nowhere to put the full food scraps bags. If I put the scraps in a blue or green bin it'll be wrong. So I'm forced to get a brown bin which means three bins in the space of one- so annoying. Just which the council would think these things through before they foist it on us.

PeterStorm, Part of me is tempted to advise that perhaps the dog would not get sick if it were allowed out to see the fox off. It may have a fear of foxes, but far more likely is that it is exhibiting extremely frustrated prey drive- it is literally worked into a frenzy by the sight/smell/noise of the fox which it wants to get to. It may be a territorial thing but I'd bet the former. Is it a terrier type dog perchance? Anyhow, it won't be the prey drive or being territorial that is making it sick but the fact that it cannot act on an extremely powerful urge to do something that is being frustrated. One way of dealing with it is to go out with the dog, so that it is satisfied that the fox has been seen off. Otherwise keep dog away from that window and avoid trigger for frustration and use distraction at foxing hour so that the dog learns to associate the arrival of foxes with fabulous games. Anyway, you sound a reasonable chap to me so we agree, a bit of give and take all round is all that's needed- dogs left to bark for several hours at a time are most likely very bored and are an animal welfare issue.

peterstorm, I would disagree that dogs barking at wildlife are distressed, most likely they are having a great time. I do agree if the dogs really are barking for hours on end that is one thing, but from what another poster has written it sounds as though this is not the case. All of us can get irritated by any number of noises- babies crying, children practicing their musical instruments after school- badly; endless building noises...the list goes on, but there has to be a bit of live and let live.

James, I don't think it's been thought through either. I'm very happy to recycle by why have they not thought to offer two sizes of bin? That way those who produce less waste could fit three smaller bins in the space of one and a half. Additionally, why can't all the bins be green or brown and simply colour coded by sticking something on the top, rendering them less of an eyesore. Why does the council always have to treat people as though they are at primary school- ie the blue bins I agree with Sue, aesthetics are important to many people and these bins are ugly with a capital U. Who chose the colour and when were we consulted? When were we consulted about each getting three huge bins to fit in the space of one bin. The mini food waste bin with its special compostable bags, stinks to high heaven so I cannot see myself continuing with that. Grrrrr.

eedee, Oh for goodness sake. Surely children can cope with the sound of a dog barking and 8pm is hardly late. What with the noise of traffic, areoplanes, sirens, car alarms etc...etc.. that blight our urban soundscape from dawn till dusk, I'm amazed that dogs barking are singled out. I suppose next it'll be birds that tweet too late in the evening....oh wait, I do recall someone complaining about that too.

DM, What an odd reaction- do you have major problems with empathy? garnwba, Hope they catch whoever did it.

Squirrels can also make a lot of noise from loud screaming and barky alarm calls to this baby type noisehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WILefPsS13g&feature=related

More fox calls/vocalisations

Follow and listen to this link. If this is what you hear then it is definitely foxes.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur-oXj4D9wE

James and Renata, With regard to use of the Rye for more schools as a playing field, as many of us have already pointed out, the park was never designed to be a school playing field. Repeated and regular use by many schools would change the park beyond recognition- we've been through the details many times. It would no longer be a park but an extension of the various schools.

I shall be looking out for Mark of the Park from now on.

DJQ, Of course it isn't all footballers. The ones I've seen on Peckham have all been adult males or much older boys. I have though seen younger boys (12-14'ish) doing this in Dulwich Park and on one occasion took issue with the adult males supervising them. I am pleased to say that I have never, ever seen a female footballer behave this way :)

AM- With respect that response is a little barking.

James, I'm happy to admit I may not have noticed Mark- but let's have more Marks. Perhaps there could be voluntary Park Wardens in the same way we have specials etc..? As DJQ has said, most of us are normal, empathetic beings, who believe in all rubbing along with a little give and take. Finally, I believe one of the greatest public menaces is the so-called status dogs that are allowed to walk the streets offlead. These represent a massive hazard to other dogs and thereby potentially to owners and other people. I am tired of rounding a corner to be met by some offlead pitbull mix. I guess you'd have to be a dog owner to fully appreciate how difficult this kind of situation is. In addition, it is awful for those who are scared of dogs as they also see that the dog is apparently free to do as it pleases. People who are scared may panic and the dog sensing a high arousal situation may growl or bark or in very rare circumstances bite. If a way could be found to ensure dogs must be kept on lead on the public highways and streets life would be a lot more relaxed all round. In my view, this is a much more important issue than dogs in parks.

Mark, It sounds as though you are doing a great job, but if you are spread around so many parks perhaps there need to be more of you. Renata, I would advise some discreet observation at football matches at the weekend, in the areas mentioned. Morning to lunch seems to be the time most play. Again, could I ask you to explore with your fellow councillors ways in which people can be made to keep their dogs on lead when on public streets outside of the park. It is my understanding that there is enough existing legislation within the various road and traffic bylaws and within dog legislation to make this enforceable.

Peckham Parkie, So glad you are around. The only problem is, and I do not mean to be difficult, is that in the many years of walking my dog, nearly every morning and weekend in Peckham Rye Park, I have never seen you. Not once. It is great that you have issued fixed penalty notices for those who let their dog foul and do not pick up, but public urinaters only get a ticking off? I thought public urination, where there is no effort to be discreet and hide, was as a public order offence? This does seem a rather strange order of priorities by Southwark Council.