Garden centre could ban dogs if foul play continues

A garden centre has said it might be forced to ban dogs after a rise in "irresponsible" owners allowing their pets to foul inside.

Staff at Selby Garden Centre have been left to clean up the mess after the problem escalated over the last six months.

Manager Claire Turton said the centre prided itself on being "dog friendly" but felt there was no choice but to ban the animals it the problem continued.

She added: "Why do some owners think it's OK to foul on the carpeted area and just walk away? It's appalling behaviour."

In a sign put up at the centre on Hull Road, the business said it would be monitoring behaviour over the next few weeks and that "regretfully if this continues, we will be forced to no longer allow dogs in".

Turton said all the staff loved dogs and that a special seating area had been created at the centre in 2024 to allow owners and their pets to spend more time there.

"We have our regulars and when we put the notice up they were mortified because they love coming here and we love having the dogs too," she said.

"But when you've got a small minority of irresponsible owners, then what do we do?"

Turton said she hoped the sign would serve as a warning rather than the ban actually being enforced.

"I was at the end of my tether last week as we had three incidents.

"All we ask is, bring your dogs in, they're more than welcome, but if accidents happen then please clean it up."

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