Demand for Canines on Leash Emanates from Reindeer Rescue Team
In the Hardter Forest of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, a dedicated woman named Doris Kohnen continues to take in and care for injured fawns, despite the personal costs. Her efforts, however, are not without challenges, as dog owners who let their pets off the leash during the breeding and nesting season pose a significant threat to these vulnerable creatures.
During critical periods, such as March to late July, unleashed dogs can cause unnecessary suffering to fawns and other forest animals. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Naturvårdsverket, emphasises the importance of keeping dogs on a leash from March 1 to August 20 to safeguard wildlife during the birthing and hatching season. This rule applies to nearly all natural areas and helps protect sensitive species like nesting birds and newborn fawns from disturbance or chase.
A global assessment confirms that dogs, even when leashed, can disturb and sometimes directly harm wildlife, including birds and mammals. Mortality rates due to dog attacks range roughly from 72% to 91% among some species. The presence of dogs, indicated by their scents and waste, disrupts native animal behaviour, sometimes causing animals to abandon habitats entirely.
Unleashed dogs not only threaten individual animals but also have wider ecological consequences. They can spread diseases and parasites and pollute waterways through chemical treatments used on dogs. Public discussions and proposed solutions include the idea of traffic-light systems or other regulations for dog walkers to reduce risks to breeding birds and other wildlife.
Doris Kohnen has encountered various instances of people mistreating fawns, such as keeping them in inappropriate living conditions or taking them from their mothers. One such fawn, "Dörte", was injured by a dog and received treatment from Doris Kohnen, involving the removal of maggots and feeding with expensive goat's milk. Despite her best efforts, sometimes fawns under her care do not survive.
Doris Kohnen, who has been taking in and nursing injured or abandoned fawns since 2009, plans to release four fawns into the wild when they are strong enough. She practices gentle weaning and gradually increases distance when releasing fawns. Fawns "Bärbel", "Paule", and "Laura" are currently recovering in a fenced-off forest patch near her house.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of letting dogs off-leash in sensitive wildlife areas and informed strategies to mitigate harm, it is recommended to check websites of environmental protection agencies like Naturvårdsverket or local wildlife authorities for official regulations and educational materials. Look for published ecological studies or government reports on the impact of dogs in natural habitats, subscribe to newsletters from environmental departments or conservation groups focused on responsible pet ownership in natural areas, and observe and respect local signage about leash requirements in parks and nature reserves.
By consulting these sources, one can stay updated on the ongoing efforts to protect fawns and other forest animals from unnecessary suffering caused by unleashed dogs.
- In the home-and-garden of a dedicated woman named Doris Kohnen, four fawns are currently recovering from injuries sustained due to pet attacks, showcasing the importance of keeping dogs on a leash to safeguard wildlife, particularly during the breeding and nesting season.
- A lifestyle that involves keeping dogs and allowing them to roam freely in home-and-garden spaces or natural habitats can have detrimental effects on wildlife, as shown by studies highlighting the high mortality rates of some species due to dog attacks.
- To help protect sensitive species like fawns and promote responsible pet ownership, one can follow guidelines from environmental protection agencies like Naturvårdsverket and local wildlife authorities, such as keeping dogs on a leash for specific periods and observing leash requirements in parks and nature reserves.
