a house down the road from me has tw rotties which always seem to be in the garden. the garden backs onto a public footpath leading into farmland where I walk my dogs..the only other way to reach the farmland is by walking on a busy single track road and diving into the bushes to avoid vehichles which isnt pleasant at any time of year..
the garden the rotties are in has a tiny 3 foot high bar fence in very poor repair which the rotties could easily jump over. they lean over the fence and bark like crazy when anyone even approaches the style to use the public footpath and are very scary. I tried to walk past once befre I knew about them and had to run for my life. I have since been told that the rotts have indeed jumped the fence and been seen wandering in the lcal roads.
I contacted the dog warden who said she can do nothing unless the rotties bite someone..
I dont want that to be me.. and equally I dont like being at risk walking on the narrow road.
the area is rarely used by dog walkers as most people use the local common, but being a staffy owner I dont like to do that and prefer to use the open farmland behind my house.. not because my dogs are agressive, but because they are strong and I wouldnt want them to run up and knock a tiny dog over, which is possible as they are playful and  dont return if they see another dog, being disabled I cant run after them!
is there anyway I can get the owners to put up a proper fence. they have a million pound house, so I cant imagine why the fence is in such poor condition anyway. I dont know them and wont knock on their door as they have security gates at the front and the rotties can run around frm the back,.
ruth

do they have a post box outside the front gates? maybe if you write them a polite note saying that their dogs are frightening you and other people and that they have been known to get out, and also say that if they continue to do so you will have to inform the dog warden and police(they may well not know the dog warden cant do anything)-  you dont have to write who you are- just address it from a neighbour. other than that as it is a public right of way you could try your council and see what they say

As qwerty has said the Council may be the way to go but try your Parish council first.  They often have very good local knowledge and will have personal contacts that enable them to be quite effective in situations like yours.  They are usually pretty hot on Rights of Way too and you can quite easily argue that your ROW is blocked by these dogs.  A photo of the fence may be helpful...

Good luck

The organisation most likely to respond and do somethng about it is the Ramblers Association. They get terribly fierce if they think that any footpaths or rights of way are being compromised in any way. Have you considered that these house owners don't like having a footpath so close to their million pound house and are doing this on purpose to discourage people from using it.

You may find this helpful in quoting to the dog warden.  If you scroll down the "using the legislation"  I think they describe very similar circumstances to the one you describe.

>This is a flexible provision which can be used to deal with a number of nuisance complaints about dogs including circumstances where dogs in one back garden cause fear of risk or injury to neighbours in another.

Under the law you only need to be in fear not actually to be bitten.  I suggest you ask the Warden to take a walk up the path to understand what you mean about fear :-)

hi I believe you are absolutely right..but the footpath goes through a patch of lane approx 1 acre.. which is public land and ideal for dog walking..
I am not suggesting they remve the dgs from view to discourage break ins, I just want them to have a fence where they can still protect their  owners property..but not menace every innocent person walking past.. and this is the chiltern hills which is very popular with walkers anyway.
the owners must no their dogs are frightening..

ruth