To think that dogs shouldn't be left alone tied to school railings.

[MyOtherCarIsAPorsche]

There are lots of dogs around at school drop offs and pick ups. Most on short leads and well behaved I must stress, standing well back from the entrance on the village green which is next to the school.

There are two dogs in particular, however, which are medium/large sized, regularly (but not every day) left tied to school railings while the parents take their child/ren into the grounds when the gates are opened.

My granddaughter (aged 7 - year 3) is petrified of dogs in general. Unusually and absolutely petrified. She's undergoing assessments for suspected ASD if that is relevant.

Coming out of school today she saw one dog tied to the railings next to the gate closest to the teacher's car park (large double gates) - these are the only access to the site. The dog was sat just inside the gates on the car park drive. So to avoid this dog she went towards the opposite gate. As we went through the gates another dog tied at the other side which she hadn't seen approached and barked - it made her jump and she screamed and ran off, the dog tried to run after her but of course it was tied to the railing. No surprise that she fell, scuffing her knees, her hands and face. Cue further disproportionate screaming - she was really shaken and took ages to calm down. When we sat on a bench to clean her up she asked if she was going to die which is an indication of how scared she was. I wasn't holding her hand as I was pushing a buggy and holding the hand of her 3 yr old brother, who goes to the nursery at the school.

Would I be unreasonable to ask school to advise parents not to leave dogs alone tethered to the school gates? They are not under control - mainly due to the generous length of lead tethering them. There are 250 children at the school and possibly same number of adults (both parents/grandparents attend for lots of children) at the gates each day.

Nursery and reception exit school at 3pm and 3.10 - the rest of the school exit at 3.15. The area around the gates is often completely blocked with groups stood chatting at the entrance (not a safe practice when you think about it). Children on scooters and balance bikes push through the crowds. The dogs just add to the melee.

For further context, when it is raining there are zero dogs about during the school run.

I'll pray for rain.

I am a dog owner and also was petrified of dogs when I was younger. I agree they shouldn't be unattended on school railings. When we walk our dog to school its only on days when there are two of us, one to stand well away from school with the dog on a secure lead.

I also get annoyed as a cyclist how many people let their dogs out on extendable leads across the school run paths. It's a nightmare trying to get dc to cycle safely along without being garrotted or crashed into. Just use a normal lead!

Especially as your granddaughter has hurt herself. I think it's totally reasonable to mention it to the school who could easily send a reminder out. What would happen if A child approached and got bitten, owner would be held responsible as dog is unattended.

Yanbu.

I work in a school office and I don't think you'd be at all unreasonable to mention it and ask if they'd consider sending a note out. It's a safety issue after all. What if someone had been bitten?

Personally I don't think dogs have any place on the school run and should not be allowed within a couple of hundred metres of a school at either drop off or pick up times, but that's a whole other thread!

OP, I would send in a polite email and ask the question. Worst the headteacher can do is say no.

I agree. It is horrific at my DC's school. My eldest is also anxious about dogs and the entrance to school is very narrow where people tie their enormous dogs up. V difficult when pushing the pram to try and manoeuvre myself between the dog and my DD.

Not fair on the dogs or children.