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Alert over claim dog death was linked to Himley Hall goose droppings

Dog owners have been warned about potential risks posed by goose droppings after the death of a dog sparked a health alert at Himley Hall.

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Himley Hall

Signs will go up while people have been warned to wash their hands "thoroughly" after visiting the park.

Dudley Council said it had been "unable to confirm" a report that the death of the dog, an English bull terrier called Betty, last month was a result of a visit to Himley Hall and Park but has ramped up its safety advice as a result.

The authority said it was "important that dog owners are aware of the risks".

It is claimed the dog was walked almost "exclusively" at Himley park.

Experts say goose droppings can be harmful to dogs but that infections are rare.

A dog walker in the grounds of Himley Hall

Councillor Ian Kettle, a cabinet member at Dudley Council, said: “We have received a complaint from a member of the public, who alleged that a friend’s dog had died as a result of eating geese droppings in Himley park.

“We have been unable to confirm the facts relating to the case but acknowledge that faeces from all wildlife can pose a risk to health.

"For this reason we advise people to wash their hands thoroughly after visiting the park and before eating food. It is also important that dog owners are aware of the risks.

“We are liaising with the complainant and have invited him to meet with us at Himley to discuss the matter further.

"We have also consulted with Natural England and Defra on the issue but unfortunately there is no specific advice available which would help the council to resolve this matter.

“As we are aware of the enjoyment families get from seeing the various wildlife within the park we are keen to take a proportionate management approach. We will therefore be erecting signage reminding people of the need to practice good hygiene.”

Dogs were banned from parts of the grounds in 2016 in order to encourage more visitors.

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