Dog walkers face £1,000 for having dogs off lead
Thursday 25th November 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
Dog walkers who fail to keep their animals on leads in parks could be fined up to £1,000 under tough new rules being considered by council bosses.
Walsall Council is proposing to make it a criminal offence if people fail to keep dogs on leads or allow them to wander into certain parts of parkland.
Council bosses are also considering limiting the number of dogs a person can take into a park as part of the dog control orders.
People could also be hit with a £1,000 fine if they fail to clean up their dog’s mess.
Signs have now gone up in parks and open spaces in the borough, inviting dog walkers and visitors to have their say on the proposals.
Walsall Council said it is “conducting a survey to investigate the impact of the presence of dogs in parks”.
Jamie Morris, executive director for neighbourhood services, said: “The council does not currently have rules to control dogs within parks.
“The only powers the council does have at the moment relates to dog fouling and the seizure of stray dogs.
“As a result of feedback from some residents, we decided to conduct this survey to find out park users’ views on the proposed legislation.
“We will introduce rules dependant upon what they tell us — if they say there is no need, then we will not introduce any unnecessary rules.”
Dog enthusiast Barbara Lewthwaite is secretary of the Manic Mutts dogs and handlers display team.
She said: “I can see both sides of the coin. On one hand, it is nice for the dogs to run free but parks are for recreation and children.
“I always keep my dogs on leads in parks because there are other dogs and children running about. People need to be responsible.”
The consultation on the five proposals will finish on November 28.
Council chiefs said they could issue Dog Control Orders only where it is a “necessary and proportionate response to problems caused by the activities of dogs and those in charge of them”.
Mr Morris added: “Residents often tell us that they would like to see more staff in parks to maker them feel safer, and we did that last year. Our intention is to make the parks an enjoyable and safe place for all residents.”
There are more than 500 parks and open spaces in the borough of Walsall, all of which are popular with families as well as dog-walkers.
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Good this will only hit inconsiderate dog owners.
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Hmm, I’m in two minds about restraining dogs; most of the animals I see in places like Tipton generally roam about near their owners. One thing I do flat out agree with however is punitive measures against owners who refuse to clean up their animal’s mess. At the junction of The Leasowes and Mansion Drive in Tipton there are signs but some people just ignore them, so I think there should be a staggered approach if you are to tackle the inconsiderate people who either can’t read..or won’t read.
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There is a small grassed area near this road, too..and it’s routinely full of dog mess..despite that having signs saying £1,000 fine for littering. It’s terrible having to run the gauntlet avoiding mess when these people just walk away scott-free. Note, I am an animal lover and have had dogs in the past, but always clean up after them due to the risks of disease and inconvenience to others. It’s not the so much the dogs in my eyes (they are after all just doing what’s natural), it’s the inconsiderate and anti-social owners. Not all mind you, just some.
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Its easy cleaning up the mess when there is light….but when there isnt its very difficult.
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There’s a device you can use to help with this, i’m sure they’re available in Tipton
they’re called a TORCH
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Actually, a torch might come in handy if you fall down a hole in the road, where the drain cover once was. Make sure you nail down the torch in case that vanishes, too..
Seriously, I don’t dislike all dog owners and I empathize with what Rob is saying, it’s just the people who let their dogs foul the pavement all the time that angers me. I hope the proposed legislation reflects this to be more of a problem than dogs off leads, something I personally never had any issues with unless it’s a dangerous dog. This legislation gives the impression easy targets and fast profit are the priority, I hope this isn’t so.
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Its a pity the same rule does not apply to the streets of moxley “dog doo” every where on the pavement, signs are there but they just ignore, cant blame the dogs its the irresponsible dog owners who dont want to tread in it by there house, disgusting people!!!!
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This is nothing other than yet another way for Walsall Council to screw even more money out of local residents.
My 16 year old dog no longer runs, but potters. In her younger days she liked a run in an open space and as she is such a nice dog all the kids loved her. It’s more often not dogs that are the problem but yobbish ill behaved kids who have no concept of good manners who are the problem.
The only thing all dog owners should do, which is quite reasonable, is to clean up when their pets leave something behind. Walsall Council should get on with the task of cutting council taxes and improving services rather than wasting money on this nonsense that will end up punishing responsible dog owners whose pets need exercise.
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The only problem is as stated in a few of these replies, inconsiderate owners.
If you do not have anyone patrolling the areas they will do as they wish and not clean up the mess.
Cannot see why dogs have to be kept on a lead if they are well behaved, again the owners with unsociable animals should have them on leads and muzzled if required.
Again this country is looking to punish the majority for the inability of the minority that could not care less.
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Well I think Mark summed it up better than I could, and reflects the general sentiment towards these planned punitive measures. In hindsight I have met very few dogs I’d want to put on a lead, and the owners always have time to say hello. Don’t take this away, don’t fill parks with yobs who act worse than animals. Often the sight of someone walking a dog is a deterrent, and a reassurance to other people. So what if a dog runs about a bit, our green space is limited here, and much of it being concreted over with urban sprawl. Tackle the poo brigade and the yobs – and open police stations to do it.
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Sounds great if its pushed through.I hope it applies to all boroughs.
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100% agree with fine for not cleaning up, agree that dogs should be controlled in public places, GIVE SOME PEOPLE A JOB and allow them to jump on the irresponsible owners who don’t clean up and on louts who drink and break glass in parks instead of wasting public money on needless spendings.
Or here’s an idea….. all those parks and they can’t create a few dog parks to keep dogs out of the public parks, I’m sure most responsible dog owners would love a park where they can allow their dogs to run, provided they are not dog aggressive, still providing bins for dog waste, stick a pet shop in the area and you’re creating pet heaven lol
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I think it’s a stupid idea, I would love the persons who come up with these ideas to have leads on them and see how they like it, well perhaps some of them do.
What about the well behaved dogs and those who like to play, it’s nice to watch and it’s totally unfair. I think the council should stick to what it knows best, then again, correction.
Those who leave their mess on fields and paths should be responsible and clear it up. The horses are the worst.
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