00:00For dog owners in the summer, it's not just the heat they have to worry about, it's also
00:06the grass seeds.
00:08Their sharp barbed points can easily get lodged in a pet's eyes, paws and skin, causing excruciating
00:18and even life threatening pain.
00:21Grass seeds aren't just a problem in Cosington, but in other parks as well.
00:26But once they reach this size, it's really problematic for dogs and their owners.
00:32These dog owners are here because they're not happy with Medway Council for not cutting
00:39down the wall barley here in Cosington Park.
00:43There seem to be a lot of cases of dogs getting injured.
00:46Grass seeds can actually kill them.
00:49They get embedded in them and work their way in.
00:52So, basically, I've done a petition and the petition's got to about 211 now, I think.
01:00Unfortunately, the cutting has not taken place like it should do.
01:05I appreciate it's been hot and the weather has not been, you know, conducted to…
01:11It's not been nice for animals at all, but the council have not done as much as they could
01:19this year.
01:20A pet from Medway also has another warning sign to look out for in your dog.
01:26I think you can also look for sort of swellings in between the toes that might, that might
01:33be sort of oozing a liquid as well.
01:34Sometimes that's a common sign that they just have a swelling between the toes that
01:38like forms a little bit of an abscess.
01:41And yeah, a lot of the time, this time of year especially, we'd be suspicious of a grass
01:47seed in between the toes.
01:48A statement from Medway Council says that some grass areas are left uncut to promote
01:55biodiversity, encourage the growth of pollinators and boost local habitats.
02:01The council has advised dog owners to check pets thoroughly after every walk and remove
02:08burrs and fawns.
02:10But no matter where you walk your dog, looking out for these warning signs could save their
02:17lives.
02:17Henry Luck, for Kane TV, in Medway.
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