Teashop owner attacks 'spying' dog wardens

A teashop owner has hit out at dog wardens who "spied" on her for half an hour before fining her £50 for failing to keep her two Jack Russell terriers on leads.

Published: 7:30AM BST 24 Aug 2010

Juliet Howard-Allen says she was upset and embarassed when the wardens walked into her Harlequin Tea Room in Cheltenham, Glos, and issued the fine notice in front of customers.

Miss Howard-Allen disputes that her dogs Fifi and Missi were in the High Street without leads but says she will pay the fixed penalty to avoid more fuss and distress.

But she has complained to Cheltenham Borough Council that the wardens "lurked" in the street for half an hour watching her in her teashop before finally approaching her.

She is calling on the council to issue the wardens with cameras so they can photograph alleged offences and prove their allegations.

"When they finally did speak to me they told me they had no proof of their case," she said.

"The thought that they kept on watching me for half an hour after the alleged offence is spooky. They're dog wardens, not international spies.

"It was very embarassing when they came into the tea shop. I had three customers there. After the alleged offence they had at least a minute to make themselves known to me before I went into my shop but they did not.

"When you commit a parking offence the wardens take photographic evidence. Why can't they do the same with dogs. Fifi and Missi are as good as gold - they have never done anything wrong."

Denise Powell, Cheltenham Borough Council's environmental protection manager, said one of the wardens witnessed Miss Howard-Allen walking her dogs without leads in the High Street on Aug 16.

"As she then went into a cafe the officers decided to wait for her to leave, rather than confronting her in the shop and causing embarassment," she said.

"After half an hour she had stil not left the premises so one of the officers went in, advised her of the offence, and issued the fixed penalty notice."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7959933/Teashop-owner-attacks-spying-dog-wardens.html