Warning, Restrictions On Dogwalking

[FeeFee]

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I don't know if other people have picked this up, but there is a growing 'bandwagon' at the moment for local councils to impose dog control orders - in some cases including quite draconian restrictions - on dogs in public places.

There are at least a dozen councils proposing these sorts of restrictions at the moment. The latest ones I have heard of are Swindon, Camden and SW Bristol.

The proposals vary from council to council, but typically they are banning offlead dogs from public areas (parks and any woodlands or common land managed by the councils), and limiting the number of dogs that can be walked at once, for example to 3 dog per adult.

Councils are putting this forward as a 'public safety' measure following the awful recent attacks on children we saw in the press - but surely this is a completely disproportionate response that penalises the thousands of responsible dog owners who regularly use parks and public land? None of the recent horrific attacks involved dogs in public places.

Legally, councils have to put these proposals up for public consultation before they can be introduced - this often means publishing a small notice in the local paper somewhere, so please keep an eye on your local press to see if there are proposals affecting your area.

The KC are also concerned about this and have published the following: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/295

 

[fallenangel]

the councils are all jumping on the fasionj of the aunty dog band wagon. At the moment dogs are resticetd to on lead in some manchestr parks and limeted to 6 dogs per adult. We can cope with that but if dogs have to be with an adult it means my dauter will never be abell to take her dog out for a walk with her frends like she does now without us being with her.

Allso we go out to differnt places with our lot how will we know how many dogs we can walk each. If councils want to restict were we let our dogs off lead why arent they providing secure well fenced areias we can let our dogs off. I and a lot of dog owners I know would be much happer with a selected aria to let my dogs off safly.

The councils are very good at taking away but there not giving anything back. I will have to collect all the phone numbers for dog wardens were ever we go so I can phone in advance to see how many dogs we can walk each there its going to be a night mar trying to stay within each councils laws

 

[whippetsrus]

I am afraid that I agree that some restrictions need to be imposed. Unfortunately all dog owners are not responsible and the number of attacks by dogs on innocent people are on the rise. The people that this does concern spoil it for the rest but then that is the case in many things.

 

[BeeJay]

That is a very good point Wendy. Any of us who have more than 3 dogs and who take all of our dogs out with us for the day when we are in a unfamiliar area could fall foul of these restrictions.

 

[Evie]

This is so frustrating!!! :rant:

Why do they not enforce the laws for picking up your dogs dirt after you and not letting dogs wander the streets rather than forcing us responsible dog walkers to have to keep our animals on lead when they are being carefully supervised. It's ridiculous!

So mad!! :rant:

 

[FeeFee]

I am afraid that I agree that some restrictions need to be imposed.  Unfortunately all dog owners are not responsible and the number of attacks by dogs on innocent people are on the rise.  The people that this does concern spoil it for the rest but then that is the case in many things.

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I'm all in favour of things that will target irresponsible owners - but at the end of the day most dogs are friendly family pets. I really think people are getting things out of proportion.

If people have aggressive or out of control dogs they can already be dealt with under current law - I'd much rather see resources going into policing that, rather than chasing after ordinary people wanting to give their dogs a run in the local park.

It's OK for me, I have private farmland nearby where I can run my dogs, but it will leave lots of people in towns with literally nowhere they can let their dogs offlead.

Apart from anything else, dogs NEED to be socialised with people, other dogs and children in all sorts of situations, otherwise we really will start to have problems.

 

[peppermint lady]

i think some things need to change, for example i was out by the river with our bichon frise(she was on a lead i only let her off if know one is around)

and a lady was walking towards me with her dog off the lead, her dog stopped when she got to libby(bichon).

the lady then said to mind her dog as she is old and can be funny with other dogs...........

my reply to her was put it on a lead then or keep it away from other dogs that are on a lead! (what was i ment to do? pick her up and run!)

also 2yrs ago i took part in a charity horse ride, when my young horse was attacked by an english bull terrier that was off the lead in the woods, so far ahead of the owner he didnt even know where his dog was. :rant:

so as long as these sort of people are affected by the changes and not people that are good responsible dog owners. then maybe we could see some improvements.

 

[fallenangel]

its not were you let your dogs off lead or how meny you have thats the problem its who owns the dogs that is as long as these muppets can get dogs nothing will change

 

[Evie]

I am afraid that I agree that some restrictions need to be imposed.  Unfortunately all dog owners are not responsible and the number of attacks by dogs on innocent people are on the rise.  The people that this does concern spoil it for the rest but then that is the case in many things.

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I'm all in favour of things that will target irresponsible owners - but at the end of the day most dogs are friendly family pets. I really think people are getting things out of proportion.

If people have aggressive or out of control dogs they can already be dealt with under current law - I'd much rather see resources going into policing that, rather than chasing after ordinary people wanting to give their dogs a run in the local park.

It's OK for me, I have private farmland nearby where I can run my dogs, but it will leave lots of people in towns with literally nowhere they can let their dogs offlead.

Apart from anything else, dogs NEED to be socialised with people, other dogs and children in all sorts of situations, otherwise we really will start to have problems.

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Excellent post.

I totally agree with you on the point of enforcing the current laws rather than restricting dog owners from allowing dogs offlead. This is only going to lead to lots of dogs full of pent up energy that will be vented in more negative ways.

The majority of dog attacks take place in the home, not in public areas!