Travellers

We are pleased to report that the travellers have left the site at the junction of Wildcroft ROad and Telegraph Road. Our staff have cleared away the rubbish and will begin putting posts in place Thursday morning.

Travellers on Putney Heath

At Wandsworth County Court on 28th October, the Conservators were granted an immediate Order for Possession of the land at the top of Telegraph Road currently occupied by the travellers. A Warrant for Possession has also been lodged with the Court.

As they have not immediately left the site, the Bailiffs can step in to move them on. We are currently waiting to hear from the Bailiffs when that will be.

Update: 3rd November - The Bailiff is waiting to receive the Warrant from the Clerk of the Court before she can execute the Order for Possession.

Update: 4th November - We have been advised that the Warrant has been issued by the Clerk of the Court today and will be handed to the Bailiff on Friday. The Bailiff will then advise us when they will execute the Warrant.

Update: 5th November - The Bailiff has now received the warrant. She will execute this on Monday morning and the travellers must be off the site by Friday.

Travellers on Putney Heath

The Ranger's Office and the Conservators are aware of the travellers on Putney Heath.

The necessary legal process is in hand to have them removed as quickly as possible.

DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS!

Please be aware in this current hot weather that leaving your dog in your car, even for a short time, can be fatal to your dog.  If we are made aware that a dog is in distress in a vehicle and the owner cannot be located, our staff will break into the car to get the dog out. Under the Animal Welfare Act, you now have a legal duty to care for your animal and if you put your animal at risk, you could face prosecution.

Even walking your dog in the heat of the day can be dangerous, so please think twice about throwing those balls or having your dog running alongside your bike during the day. Try to keep long walks to the cool of the early morning. Please also bear in mind that dogs lose body heat through their paws so you do also need to take care when walking in the evening: it may feel cool but the ground is still very warm.

Tips for hot weather

Your dog should always be able to move into a cooler, ventilated environment if he/she is feeling hot.

Never leave your dog alone in a car. If you want to take your dog with you on a car journey, make sure that your destination is dog-friendly – you won’t be able to leave your dog in the car and you don’t want your day out to be ruined!

If you have to leave your dog outside, you must provide a cool shady spot where he/she can escape from the sun at all times of the day.

Make sure your dog always has a good supply of drinking water, in a weighted bowl that can’t be knocked over. Carry water with you on hot days and give your dog frequent small amounts.

Never leave your dog in a glass conservatory or a caravan. Even if it is cloudy when you leave, the sun may come out later in the day and make it unbearably hot.
Groom your dog regularly to get rid of excess hair. Give long-coated breeds a haircut at the start of the summer, and later in the season, if necessary.

Dogs need exercise - even when it is hot. Walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening. Never allow your dog to exercise excessively in hot weather.

Dogs can get sunburned too – particularly those with light-coloured noses or light-coloured fur on their ears. Ask your vet for advice on pet-safe sunscreen.

Early warning signs for heatstroke

Heatstroke can be fatal. Do everything you can to prevent it.

Some dogs are more prone to heatstroke. For example, dogs with short snouts, fatter or heavily muscled dogs and long-haired breeds, as well as very old or very young dogs. Dogs with certain diseases are more prone to heatstroke, as are dogs on certain medication.

If dogs are unable to reduce their body temperature, they will develop heatstroke.
There are some signs to look for:

heavy panting
profuse salivation
a rapid pulse
very red gums/tongue
lethargy
lack of coordination
reluctance or inability to rise after collapsing
vomiting
diarrhoea
loss of consciousness in extreme circumstances.

First Aid for Heatstroke

If your dog shows any symptoms of heatstroke, move him/her to a shaded, cool area and ring your vet for advice immediately. Heatstroke can be fatal and should always be treated as an emergency.

Dogs suffering from heatstroke urgently need to have their body temperature gradually lowered.

Immediately douse your dog with cool (not cold) water, to avoid shock – you could put your dog in a shower and run cool water over him/her, or use a spray filled with cool water and place your dog in the breeze of a fan.

Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water.

Continue to douse your dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle – never cool your dog so much that he/she begins to shiver.

Once you have cooled your dog down you should take him/her straight to the veterinary surgery.

Drinking Fountain near the Windmill

As many of you are aware, the drinking fountain near the windmill has been out of operation for some months.  Despite numerous attempts at repair it continued to stop working and, unfortunately, the parts required to fix the problem were no longer made.

The Conservators were therefore extremely grateful when a local resident offered a very timely and generous donation for the restoration of the original drinking fountain and the horse trough.  This donation was matched by the Drinking Fountain Association who have worked with restoration specialists to restore both the trough and the drinking fountain to their former glory.

Whilst the major part of the restoration has been completed, the specialist is waiting for the delivery of parts for the drinking fountain that needed to be specially made.  We hope it will all be up and running again in the next week or two. 

Conservators' Annual Open Meeting

The Conservators Annual Open Meeting takes place this evening (Monday 21st June 2010) at 8pm at The Cornerstone, Alton Road Roehampton SW15 4LG

The meeting is open to all Levypayers and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions of the Conservators and the Clerk & Ranger, Chief Executive at the end of the meeting.