IRRESPONSIBLE dog owners who allow their pets to run wild at the cemetery have come under a scathing attack by a woman who was forced to scrub droppings from her husband's grave.

Jan Gray visits the council cemetery at least three times a week and said she was disgusted to find the mess the dog had left atop her husband's resting place.

Upon finding the droppings, Mrs Gray travelled home to retrieve a bucket, sponge and disinfectant so she could scrub away the smell.

"I cried when I saw it and I was very upset thinking my husband wasn't worth a dog pooing on," she said.

"Don't people have any respect for the deceased?" she asked.

The Warwick woman said it was devastating to think that somebody she loved so dearly could be disrespected in such a way after death.

Mr and Mrs Gray were married in 1965 and spent many happy years together, until Mr Gray's death eight years ago.

The pain of losing a loved one never subsides and Mrs Gray said she took comfort in maintaining her husband's grave.

"He was my soul mate and my friend and nobody could ever take his place," she said.

"I loved him dearly and I still miss him.

"I would just like him to know I'm looking after him still."

Mrs Gray often visits the grave to speak to her late husband and tell him what's happening in her life at the time.

"I just come out and tell him my problems," she said.

"It is peaceful and I feel connected to him."

She said the cemetery was a place for all people to remember and honour the loved ones they have lost.

"I come out here and think once upon a time you were someone's mother or father and now you're resting here," she said.

Although she can't be certain, Mrs Gray said she believes some dog owners take their animals to the cemetery and let them run around the grounds while the owners visit graves.

Council employees work tirelessly to maintain the grounds and Mrs Gray said it was a slap in the face to them.

"The boys put so much work into keeping this place lovely and they don't need this trouble. People should be proud of how great it is.

"They look after the lawns and the maintenance of the cemetery and they do such a good job - it's a credit to them," she said.

"I'm sure they don't like mowing over dog droppings."

Mrs Gray said the solution was simple and offered dog owners a tip.

"The rule is no dogs allowed. Keep your dogs at home if you're visiting the cemetery."

An avid animal lover, Mrs Gray said the situation was not the fault of the animals, but rather the owners who allowed them to roam free in the cemetery.

And she has another message to the vandals who several weeks ago stole a number of trees and plants from the same cemetery.

"And to the scum who stole the shrubs and plants from the deceased's resting place, you're as low as they come."

The long-time Warwick resident said the disrespect shown at the cemetery had her considering leaving the town she calls home.

"I think about leaving but then I think I couldn't leave Trevor. I couldn't do it," she said.

A Southern Downs Regional Council spokeswoman said it is illegal for a person to bring a dog into a local government cemetery, unless it is approved by authorities.

Those dogs include ceremonial dogs and assistance dogs.

Anybody who observes a dog wandering through the council cemetery should call council on 4661 0300.