Regular readers may think Rye News is a rather “catty” publication as Sylvester, the St Mary’s church cat, makes guest appearances from time to time and can be seen posing in the pulpit this week. However anyone walking round Rye, particularly – but not only – at the weekends, may have difficulty avoiding dogs taking their owners for a walk.
Indeed in some licensed establishments the dogs seem to outnumber the drinkers at some points in the day, or week, and getting back to one’s seat with a full glass can be even more of a challenge – as shadows suddenly become rather large dogs – and Rye has a few of them.
However roving reporter Seana Lanigan spotted last Saturday, a new take on the “doggy bag”. This senior Westie looked happy and relaxed as his keeper hauled him up the hill – and had good grounds for feeling safe and sound.
For other dog owners the end of summer has brought fresh challenges. Rye, like many towns who have a “visitor season”, suddenly sprouts scaffolding like a plague as the visitors disappear and road works may well follow.
For the dog walker though, and particularly those with more than one dog on a lead, scaffolding legs are an invitation to chaos as dogs and their owners go on different sides of the obstruction, and dog leads get wrapped round the metal. If more than one owner is involved – and the dog numbers rise – it can be a bit like unpicking window blind cords.
The doggy bag solution to rising above autumn’s challenges is therefore to be recommended – but probably not for Great Dane owners.
Photo: Seana Lanigan