Dog Owners Have Hit Out At Council Proposals To Keep Dogs On Leads At Nearly 50 Open Spaces Across Wey-Mouth And Portland.

[Brindlebabe]

DOG owners have hit out at council proposals to keep dogs on leads at nearly 50 open spaces across Wey-mouth and Portland.

 

Spokesperson, Bev Ogden, 37, has blasted proposed Dog Control Orders that would force her and fellow dog owners to exercise their pets on leads at areas including the designated dog area of Weymouth Beach.

 

“This feels like ‘big brother’ telling us where we can and can’t walk our dogs. We feel the majority of dog owners are being penalised for a minority who have ‘problem dogs’.

 

“These proposals will have a massive impact on dogs and their owners. Dogs are social animals and need to be exercised off the lead.

 

“If you don’t let them off the lead, you create problems and make them ‘lead aggressive’,†said teaching assistant, Bev, who owns three dogs.

 

But Councillor Ian James, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s brief-holder for community safety, said the council had to represent the interests of all people.

 

“We have got to look after the interests of everybody.

 

“Although we are nation of dog lovers, there are some people who are petrified of dogs. Most dog owners are responsible people, but the sad fact is that there will always be a handful of irresponsible owners. We have to cover all occasions,†said Coun James.

 

The community safety chief urged people to make their feelings known in an eight-week public consultation on proposals to replace local bylaws with Dog Control Orders.

 

Owners could face on-the-spot fines of up to £80 if they fail to clean up after their dogs, or allow them on to land from which dogs are banned.

 

Dogs would be kept from play parks, skateparks, bowling and putting greens, basketball and tennis courts, and all other recreation areas displaying ‘dog exclusion signs’, under the proposals. The fines would also apply to owners who fail to keep their dogs on leads in certain areas, even when ordered to do so by the dog warden.

 

Public gardens, allotments, and recreation grounds, including the Rodwell Trail and all parts of Lodmoor Country Park, except for the dog exercise area, are among the areas at proposed under a ‘dogs on leads’ order.

 

Owners who fail to pay within 14 days, persistent offenders, or those who fail to give their name and address to the dog warden, face a court appearance and fines of up to £1,000.

 

Registered deaf, blind, or disabled people would not be subject to the orders, according to a council statement.

 

Local people have until September 11 to have their say on the proposals, which can be found at www.weymouth.gov.uk.

 

Councillors are expected to vote on the proposals early next year.

 

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/4510581.Dog_owners__anger_over_Weymouth_and_Portland_restrictions_plan/

[ReikiAnge]

God we really are an easy target aren't we. I am as annoyed by irresponsible dog owners as anyone but why do we all have to be punished because of the actions of some

[AngieK9]

I know, dog control orders are everywhere. Don't know if you know about KC Dog, they send you regular newsletters about the latest proposed orders.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/295

[ailsas mum]

I would be getting the dog owners to get in touch with the council about all these out of control teenagers, can we please have them banned from certain areas as we are frightened of them and the mess they leave behind ( Broken bottles, cans, used condoms ect. ) is disgusting. I'm not saying your area has these problems but fight fire with fire.

 

Terri

[lester]

Start a Dog Owners party and put up candidates for the next election.

[Kathyw]

I would be getting the dog owners to get in touch with the council about all these out of control teenagers, can we please have them banned from certain areas as we are frightened of them and the mess they leave behind ( Broken bottles, cans, used condoms ect. ) is disgusting. I'm not saying your area has these problems but fight fire with fire.

 

Terri

 

Wonderful idea - if only.

 

Could we also ban the irresponsible parents of bratty children who leave dirty nappies lying around and the remains of whatever said brats have eaten?

 

Perhaps the percentage of council tax paid for upkeep of parks, beaches etc could be withheld as dogowners cannot use them so why should they pay for them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ruby1Nic]

It's always the same, the majority being penalised for the actions of the minority

[greys mum]

I really feel for the dog owners of this area.

 

No guesses where I will NOT be taking my holidays in the future!

[Kathyw]

It will not be long before the London parks are out of bounds for letting dogs offlead. Walkers get told often that 'parks are for people'.

 

If this happens the only time the parks will be used fully is when the sun is shining and it's hot as these people only use the parks then but expect to have them all to themselves and then leave more mess lying around than 5o dogs would.

[ailsas mum]

Wonderful idea - if only.

 

Could we also ban the irresponsible parents of bratty children who leave dirty nappies lying around and the remains of whatever said brats have eaten?

 

Perhaps the percentage of council tax paid for upkeep of parks, beaches etc could be withheld as dogowners cannot use them so why should they pay for them?

 

We had a news letter from our local councillor a couple of months ago, he was moaning about the dog dirt in the park. I e-mailed him and told him that most of the dog dirt was left by people passing through and not locals, I then told him about all the glass and cans that the dog walkers picked up so people wouldn't get hurt, I also shoved in some pictures that I'd taken in the park and asked him what he was going to do about it, below are some of the pictures I sent him

 

 

I pointed out to him that what is in the pictures could cause more harm to children than anything a dog owner could leave behind. He did say he was disgusted and he would see what he could do.

 

Terri