Beaches’ wire fences are ‘almost invisible’ (From Bournemouth Echo)

Beaches’ wire fences are ‘almost invisible’

7:00am Thursday 7th May 2009 in

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A DOG owner is warning other walkers and parents to be on their guard at a Sandbanks beach.

It comes after her greyhound, Barney, came within 1cm of a fatal injury when he ran into an “almost invisible” fence at the Midway Path dog-friendly beach.

Ali Rose, a 36-year-old nurse from Ashley Cross, was walking three-and-a-half-year-old Barney last week when it happened.

She said: “You can have dogs off leads there and he was playing, basically, and he ran into the fence.

“He didn’t see it.

“There are several of them there.

“Where the wire is almost invisible to the human eye, he ran into it and sustained severe lacerations to his legs, resulting in a lot of stitches.

“The vet said it could have been fatal – it was a near miss.

“If it was any deeper it would have got an artery.”

Ali, who was left with a £400 vet’s bill, said a colleague had had a similar accident with his dog.

She added: “They need to be more obvious.

“They’re a danger for children too.

“My only wish is for it not to happen to any other dogs in the future.”

Graham Smith, of Afrivet in Parkstone, treated Barney.

He said: “There’s nothing to stop a dog or a child from charging along.

“This dog was incredibly lucky because he tore his leg right open and almost completely separated the muscles.

“If it had been another 1cm he would have cut an artery in his leg.”

Simon Legg, green space maintenance team leader at Borough of Poole, said: “Fencing has been in place around the dunes for many years to protect sensitive coastal habitats at Sandbanks and many dog walkers regularly use the area without incident.

“The council is committed to providing safe open spaces for everyone’s enjoyment and will be investigating this incident to see if any changes are required.”