Council smear grease on trees to prevent them being bitten by ‘devil’ dogs

Trees in public parks are suffering so much damage from ‘devil’ dogs that councils have been forced to smear grease on the trunks to protect them. Cruel owners preparing their dogs to be fighting champions encourage them to attack the trees, hang off branches and gnaw at bark to strengthen their jaws and shoulders. The damage is being caused in areas throughout London as well as other cities including Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool and Bath. Many mature trees are being killed and it costs hundreds of thousands of pounds to treat or cut them down. But it is almost impossible to identify the culprits. Dog owners usually train the animals at night and often break into parks after they have been locked up.

Even if someone is caught under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, damage to property by dogs is not specifically covered. The grease prevents so-called ‘status’ dogs, such as pitbulls. Staffordshire bull terriers and their crossbreeds, from locking their mouths on trunks and branches. They dislike the grease’s smell and bitter taste. One of the worst-affected areas is Southwark in South London, a hotspot for dangerous dogs and home to a number of street gangs. In the 12 months to the end of June, 165 trees were damaged and 21 destroyed. It costs an average of £450 to replace a tree.



The council was among the first to use the grease and in future all newly planted trees will be treated. Fencing, wire caging or a hessian wrap were previously used to protect trees, but these methods are unsightly and expensive, costing up to £70 per tree. Smearing a tree with grease costs just £20, but that price will be slashed to as little as £3.40 when the product is used routinely by all park and housing estate staff. The product, which is normally used to lubricate machinery on farms and in the food industry, also poses no harm to trees, dogs or the environment and does not stain skin or clothes. Raymond Bennett, a tree officer in Southwark, said: ‘We have had a terrible problem here with dog damage, particularly our cherry trees and limes, which have stringy barks and low-hanging branches. We have lost important trees 50ft to 60ft high.

‘But we have been using this grease – the dogs hate the powerful smell and taste. The grease is doing a wonderful job saving lots of trees in parks and on our housing estates. None of the trees we have treated has been damaged again by dogs. Obviously, some children will touch the trees but there are no issues. If they stick their hands in their mouths afterwards it won’t harm anyone.’ The grease is also being tested in others parts of London including Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, and Wandsworth. And other councils across the country, such as Bath & North East Somerset, which has spent an estimated £20,000 on replacing and maintaining damaged trees, are now keen to try it. The use of non-toxic grease is supported by the RSPCA.