Mum’s petition to ban dogs from Hawkinge Cemetery, near Folkestone, after seeing them ‘weeing on headstones’

More than 200 people are backing a grieving mum’s campaign for dogs to be banned from a cemetery – after she saw the animals “weeing on headstones”.

Cody Hobman, from Folkestone, has been “absolutely disgusted” by walkers letting their pets run around and defecate while she is visiting her 16-year-old daughter’s grave.

She has launched a petition for no dogs to be allowed at Hawkinge Cemetery and accuses some owners of showing a lack of respect for mourners.

The 32-year-old has created what she calls a “forever bed” at the graveyard for her daughter Alisha Marie Ponter, who was killed in a crash in February.

However, the mum-of-five now feels that the quiet space she visits daily has become a dog-walking site.

Signs put up by Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) say the animals should be on a lead while in the cemetery.

But Ms Hobman told KentOnline: “I want them banned completely. What I’ve seen is absolutely disgusting.

“My dog has never gone up there, and my daughter hated them because she said, ‘they stink and s*** everywhere’, and the more I sit up at the cemetery, the more I’ve seen they genuinely do.

“Even though the signs are there, they don’t follow them, and there’s so many fields around – why would you want to walk your dog where people are buried? It feels so morbid and just so disrespectful.”

Ms Hobman says dog walkers argue it is OK for their pets to defecate at the cemetery because they pick up after them.

But she said: “I’ve seen dogs weeing up headstones

“It’s still soaking into the ground. Our loved ones are all still down there.”

The petition launched on November 9 says: “The respect the dog walkers show for the dead is disrespectful and outright pure filth.”

Commenting on the campaign, Chelsie Norris said: “It’s awful dog's toilet where people’s nearest and dearest loved ones are laid to rest. So awful for the families.

Chloe Brown added: “I agree; it’s absolutely disgusting! A cemetery should be a clean and peaceful place to visit a loved one.”

Elsewhere in Kent, Ashford Borough Council allows dogs on leads in cemeteries if accompanied by someone visiting a grave.

Previously, Canterbury City Council launched a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) banning pets from graveyards in Herne Bay, Canterbury and part of Whitstable’s.

However, calls were launched for the PSPO to be reviewed after a grieving widow was handed a £100 fine for bringing her border collies to her husband's graveside.

FHDC has been asked about Ms Hobman’s petition.

Earlier this year, she received letters from the council demanding the removal of some of the tributes from around her daughter’s grave.

This was due to strict rules stressing that personal effects must be placed “on or in the headstone channel” rather than the lawn so workers could perform maintenance.