Hi
Has anyone had any experience of successfully fighting a council on proposed Dog Control Orders?  If so, I would appreciate hearing what worked and what didn't.

My local council are proposing to introduce four new orders - a lot of them are common sense and I support.  Things like picking up dog faeces, dogs not being allowed in school playgrounds, dogs on leash on pavements etc etc.  However, there are two areas where I do take exception.  The first concerns five recreation grounds in town which they are trying to make dogs on leash only.  My local councillor tells me this is because the council has a policy of investing in play areas (skateboard parks etc) for the older teenager in order to drive them off the streets and they feel that the two are incompatible.  (Quite why the skateboard areas can't be fenced, I don't know.)  These areas are the only places that a lot of people who live in town have to free run their dogs, unless they drive, which many of the elderly do not. 

The second point that gives me concern is that the council are proposing that dogs should be on leash on all public footpaths - this applies to both privately owned as well as council owned land anywhere in the jurisdiction of the borough council. 

We have enlisted the help of KC Dog, have written to the council, got local dog training clubs and small animal vets to do likewise and also written to the local papers.  Any other suggestions welcome.

Thank you

PS  To put into context, we are in an area where in the last 12 months, my councillor tells me, there has only been one bite incident and that was in someone's back garden.  Also, I am not aware of any livestock worrying in recent times, which I think I may well have heard about due to my involvement in local shoots.

can the council come to a comprimise on the recreation ground for example have the part for the proposed skate ramp fenced off like you said but also have a dedicated dog walk area were it is safe to let your dog off and other people are aware that particular area is used for this purpose good luck with your battle with the council be prepared for a long winded process

All I can advise is that you will need to get a petition going, get hundereds if not thousands of dog walkers signatures on that petition, knock on doors etc, they won't listen to just one person. I think there will be more and more of this type of thing going on, all due to bad dog owners messing things up for the other 90% of us, some more city/town type areas are going to find it very difficult to have any off lead walks at all.

Perhaps the councils could come up with giant hamster wheels for dog owners to exercise our dogs on. :rolleyes:

Perhaps the councils could come up with giant hamster wheels for dog owners to exercise our dogs on.

Don't even go there!  :-)  Having spent most of the day talking to various councillors I've now ascertained (verbally at least) that the real problem is dog fouling.  How they think that keeping dogs on leashes everywhere is going to solve that I do not know.  Those that don't currently pick up are not going to do so just because their dog is attached to them by a yard of rope.

I guess the next thing will be Cat Control Orders and then the council will be wasting tax payers money fox-proofing all the recreation areas as apparently 61% of the fox population are also carriers of toxocariasis. 

Off to pour LARGE glass of wine (or two or three!) and look at houses for sale in places miles away from here!  :-(

Council's are required to ensure that areas are set aside land for dog walking if they intend to shut off land by dog orders, plus they have to advertise dog orders and you can object.  Get all technical now " Local people should have clear ideas about the local laws that apply in public spaces and should have every opportunity to have their say on what those rules should be"
Which means they have to publish the control orders in the local press, then moan and ask where you can walk your dogs, might be a better way forward if you can quote them the law......
(can you tell Im a Parish Clerk???)

Local radio and local regional TV are also good places to get this aired.

Hi Whistler
The consultation period we have has been extended to December 12th.......I would like to think because of how we have inundated the Council with our views, but who knows!  Anyway, one of the arguments we are trying to put forward is based on the fact that the Animal Welfare Act places a 'duty of care' on an animal owner to provide suitable diet, housing and the ability for the animal to 'exhibit normal behaviour patterns'.  (See DEFRA website for more details.) To clarify this legislation and the implications for the dog owner, the RSPCA have produced a leaflet downloadable from their website called 'Dogs - Know What Your Dog Needs'.  This leaflet contains a section entitled  'To Behave Normally' where it states that 'All dogs need to have time to run around and stretch their legs; some dogs like Labradors and GSDs need lots of walks.  Smaller dogs may be happy with just one walk a day and time to play in the garden.' 

If you have any comments on the above, other ideas, experiences in your area.....please let me know.

Cheers

Mmmmm............need to think about that one.  What the hell.....off to phone our local FM station.
Tx.

How about getting a list of all the Councillors that will sit on the committee and lobby them with the DEFRA stuff they will make the decsion then ask the Secretary of State at Queen Annes gate to look at the process. That way the council is minded to be absolutely clear that both the dog owners and residents who advocated a dog control area have been treated the same.  If they find that you as dog owners are say 5000 and residents are 300 you'll win. Its all down to democracy and proved need for a dog control area ie stats of bites, mess ect..