On / Off The Lead Laws.

[andrea31]

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Does anyone know the laws concerning dogs on and off the lead in local council owned parks?

I had the girls out for a run a couple of days ago at our Taylor park, our local council owned park. There was me and 1 other family with a puppy staffy x type, that the girls were playing with, running all over the grass like complete nutters. No one else was on the field at all, until a man walking a very muscled up pit bull, which was muzzled and on the lead. The family with the puppy decided to leave, as they didn't like the look of this dog, which left me and the girls on the field.

My girls paid no attention to his dog at all, and were running round like absolute idiots, when he started to have a rant at me, calling me an inconsiderate dog owner for letting my dogs run off the lead in the park, and telling me I was breaking the law.

I was gobsmacked, and said a few choice words back to him, thinking he's only saying it cos I'm a lady on my own, and he'd never say these things to a bloke.

Literally everyone and their dog goes to this park, and the field we were on, which is up a hill, is where they all let their dogs off for a good run.

The long and short is, does anyone know the laws? Was I breaking the law? I've looked all over my councils webpage, and on the homepage for the park itself, and can't find anything at all on lead laws.

If I was breaking the law, then practically every dog walker that goes into that park is also breaking the law, so what is done to uphold this law? Will you get fined etc?

I've had local bobbies walk past when I've had the girls off the lead up there, and they've never said a thing, infact they've complimented me on the dogs.

 

[k4tie-d]

i dont have much of a clue about the lead laws, but it would be good to find out if their is some :b

just googled it and got this...

Local authorities have the power, under Section 27 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to designate roads where it's an offence to permit a dog to be unless it's on a lead.

 

Under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 (or the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, as appropriate depending on the location), it's an offence to allow a dog to put in fear any person or animal on the street. (In some cases, it could be argued that failing to keep a dog on a lead could contravene these laws).

 

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it an offence 'allow a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place'. (Once again, failure to keep a dog on a lead could, under some circumstances, fall foul of this legislation)

 

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 empowers local authorities to designate areas of land (including footpaths) where dogs must be kept on a lead.

 

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires all dogs, in a public place, to wear a collar which has the name & address of the owner on it (or on a tag attached to the collar). However, there's no requirement that the collar should be attached to a lead.

 

Otherwise, there's very little relevant legislation. The law places a duty of 'due care' on everybody. The courts could interpret this as meaning that dogs should be kept 'under proper control' in public places. A 'public place' doesn't have to mean publicly-owned land. It can also refer to any land to which the public has access, such as the type of lane referred to in the second part of your question.

 

[Nicola]

I'm pretty sure it's up to each local authority. Our local council wants to designate our park as a 'no dogs off leads' park, but a group of dog walkers fought it, and it hasn't been enforced (yet).

I'd ring your local council and enquire.

Anyone wanting to prevent councils imposing such bans would be advised to seek advice from the Kennel Club about how to go about lobbying the council against such action and forming a local group to oppose the schemes.

 

[andrea31]

Thanks for that help k4tie, I've just been on the phone to our local council, and it seems the angry pitbull wielding bloke was in the wrong, my dogs were well within the law, ok they were running, but they have excellent recall, and the council man I spoke to said this is totally fine, it's if dogs don't come when called, that they can be seen as not being under control, and therefore breaking laws.

So to recap, dogs who are under control, whether it be running, walking, or playing with a ball etc, are permitted to be off the lead, so long as they are well trained and recall when called. This is not breaking any council law for us.

Dogs who will not recall, and become a nuisance are considered not under control, and the dog walker will be breaking the law.

But, what is really sad is the fact that they are lobbying to get all our local parks in the St Helens area dog unfriendly places, where they must be on the lead at all times. I'm going to get in touch with the kennel club and see how I can help stop this from happening.

If anyone else in this area has information pertaining to this lobby, could you please pm me, and I'll get in touch to see what I can do alongside you guys.

 

[Nicola]

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 empowers local authorities to designate areas of land (including footpaths) where dogs must be kept on a lead.
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I'm pretty sure it's up to each local authority. Our local council wants to designate our park as a 'no dogs off leads' park, but a group of dog walkers fought it, and it hasn't been enforced (yet).
I'd ring your local council and enquire.

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yes..these seem to stack up! It's down to the Local Authority (unless you have a dangerous dog).

I'd hazard a guess that if you can't see any signs up, then dogs off leads are permitted in your park.

Edited to add that I thought I'd posted this before Andrea replied...