Calls for enforcement at Milton Common after second swan is killed

Lorna Wilkinson, from Milton, is concerned that more attacks could happen at Milton Common unless action is taken.

As reported in The News, a male swan was killed by a dog on February 7 and the hound’s owners walked off after the attack.

Mrs Wilkinson said another male cob was viciously attacked in July 2012 and spent seven days with a wound until the RSPCA was able to find it and put it out of its misery.

There are signs at the common that dogs should be kept on leads.

Mrs Wilkinson said: ‘It is appalling that this should happen again.

‘It should be mandatory that dogs are on leads around sensitive areas.

‘Portsmouth City Council has a duty of care to its wildlife, in particular swans.’

She added: ‘It is planned Milton Common will be a nature reserve.

‘This will, in effect, be far from a nature reserve if dogs are allowed to run loose on the common and around the lakes.

‘It is a dog’s instinct to chase and attack wildlife and unless measures are put in hand to make it mandatory that dogs are kept on leads around the lakes and along the harbour path passing the lakes, there will be more tragic results.’

Baffins councillor Darren Sanders said he would look into getting more patrols.

He said: ‘It’s about getting the dog wardens to come out and try to do enforcement.

‘The difficulty is a lot of these things occur randomly.’

He added: ‘I would encourage more patrols at Milton Common because it’s clearly a problem.’