Hi!  There is uproar amongst my friends-Dog owners in the local park! The local council is anticipating employing 60 dog wardens in our area...Our local park will come under the proposed Dog Control Orders which could severely limit where we walk our dogs both on and off lead! Certain areas like sports fields & childrens recreation areas will be completely out of bounds...Yes I do see the reasoning for this but these areas are only used at weekends -whereas we as dog walkers use the fields on all days every day ...These wardens will EACH need to impose at least 3 fines a day in order to make their jobs viable!!!
I PAY my council tax as much as anyone else & it really bugs me that I am being told where how & when I can walk my dog!

Not meaning to be contentious - I am a dog owner as well :) but those people who are also council tax payers and don't have dogs might say that they would like the sports fields and children's recreation areas to be guaranteed free from dog fouling.

If every owner was a resonsible owner then everyone could live in harmony but, as it stands at the moment, we are paying the price for those dog owners who just don't care. I personally think that, sadly, the only way to guarantee that places like sports fields and childrens play areas are free from dog fouling is to not let dogs on them. I do think that other areas for dog walkers should be made available :)

I live near a beach where dogs are banned for 7 months of the year. In the depths of winter the only people you ever meet at the beach are other dog walkers and the visitors are only ever there in the hot, sunny months which is annoying but the ban, once again, is due to irresponsible owners not clearing up or letting their dogs run riot.

Not meaning to be contentious - I am a dog owner as well  but those people who are also council tax payers and don't have dogs might say that they would like the sports fields and children's recreation areas to be guaranteed free from dog fouling.

Same here and totally agree. They may only be used at weekends in the winter months, maybe some evenings, but summer time they are used more and after all its not much fun trying to keep children out of dog muck or away from those dogs that love to run everywhere and may well knock kids over, take their balls etc etc. Same for those playing sports, running through dog muck or having to clear it before each game is no fun. Whilst i think areas should be free for responsible people to free run their dogs, and wardens there to fine those that abuse the rules, I do think areas that are free for those that don't like dogs, or want them running free, is necessary. After all, the amineties are there for all council tax payers, not just dog owners.

Hi I have calmed down a little today...Yesterday was a rant!!!!
I have brought up two boys who each played football on the fields in this same park...yes there was sometimes problems but never enough to have to fence & disallow dogs from the fields!
I'm wondering if these "dog designated areas" could ban all CHILDREN i.e bikes, skate boards, balls & YOUTHS who throw stones & vandalise the trees!~NO~ I don't think so~ the council tax payers on the other side of the clause would be "up in arms" about not having the complete freedom of the park!

This happened at our local field, lovely place to walk the dogs and let them off lead for a belt around, local school used it once or twice a year   suddenly dogs were banned!   School use of field didn't increase and no new use of field.   Four years later the field is now gone - they built the new primary school on it - all of it - the largest primary School in Wales    We now have to leash walk the dogs in our town or travel 3 miles to a park.  It is possible to walk dogs on the local mountains - but not if you're a woman alone, it's just not safe enough  :( :( :(

As a dog walker, I obviously understand the frustration here ... but having various places around this area where even I won't walk any longer because of the sheer volume of dog mess left by the selfish, you can certainly understand why the dog control orders are increasing.

Increase the dog wardens and put hefty fines on those who leave it, I say! ;)

M.

If it's gone through 'public' consultation, then the council are well within their rights to enforce these 'no dog' areas...
whereabouts are you?
If you check out the KC Dog section on the Kennel Club's website, it will give some useful info. and cover area's that currently have dco's in place...

it tickles me a bit really, because for years we've had signs saying up to £1000 fine for letting your dog foul the pavement.... huh - since when have they caught anyone doing it!!! grrrr!