Author Topic: New Dog Control Orders (Read 8872 times)

Emagggie · « **on:** March 04, 2009, 16:52:47 »

Southend council have put forward a proposal to disallow all dogs from being exercised off the lead in any public place within the borough. That includes any common ground, any public footpath, limited access to the beach..then only in winter and on the lead, and excluded from all play areas (no problem with that one) and sports grounds. All dogs must wear identity discs at all times, and no more than four dogs at a time are permitted to be exercised by one person (on the lead of course)
Apparently we have from Feb 11 to March 11 to register our views. Of course it has been kept quiet and the dog faeces is now only just hitting the fan with just a week left.
A few of us met at the beach this afternoon and took advantage of the sun shine and the local rag's photographer.
I can only assume that none of the proposers are dog owners.
No-one seems to know the reasons why they are doing it anyway.
Off to do a leaflet drop now, with my trusty collie off the lead. ;D

mat · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2009, 17:06:25 »

This is mad. I can understand some locations (e.g. play areas/sports grounds) but public footpaths, etc??? dogs have to be walked off the lead to get rid of their energy... how on earth would dogs like collies get sufficient exercise otherwise?! Seems like this will be cruelty to dogs.. wonder what the RSPCA, etc would think to this ruling?

Good luck
mat

Emagggie · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2009, 17:53:56 »

Thanks Mat. If this goes through I forsee many more aggressive dog incidents. Thanks for the RSPCA and other organisations hint, on the case tomorrow. ;)

Sinbad7 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2009, 18:22:00 »

Hi Emaggie, how ridiculous. Is there anything we can do to help you fight the council?

Scary as once one council does it the others are likely to follow. I couldn't imagine walking a dog all the time on the lead, they really do need freedom to run, as Mat says sounds like cruelty to dogs to me.

Emagggie · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2009, 18:55:44 »

Thanks Sinbad.
If you go to www.southend.gov.uk:- and click on Dog Control Orders and scroll down to Feedback Form, this can be printed off. Unfortunately this can't be done on line- it has to be filled in and posted back so I think that may put folk off. They don't make it easy do they?

Sinbad7 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2009, 19:06:22 »

They sure don't Emaggie. I am going to print it off and send it because as I have said Southend first then what other council's next??

I couldn't see the point in having a dog if you couldn't take it out for a walk and let it off the lead. I love seeing Sam running free and enjoying himself, like I have with all my other dogs. And nothing like seeing them run and play on the beach, out of season of course.

It would be one local byelaw I couldn't abide to.

Emagggie · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2009, 20:20:11 »

Thanks again Sinbad. I find the heavy-handedness totally unbelievable. Who do these people think they are to dictate these ridiculous rules. How they think they are going to police us I really don't know. ::)

kt. · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2009, 21:30:34 »

As a council tax payer I would write to my MP wanting to know why this is happening and I would also be wanting areas in my area where my dog can roam free off the lead when out for a walk.

What about cat owners then?
What about racing pigeons - they still come down on the ground to eat.
What about the dogs used for fox-hunting?

Emagggie · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2009, 22:28:56 »

Yup, done that, also asked them what they intend to do about wild animal faeces.
No fox hunting here KT. Now awaiting replies. It will be interesting to see if I get any before the 11th.

Hyacinth · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2009, 10:24:41 »

..local TV?

Does your area rely on holiday lets (cottages where dogs are allowed) etc...gonna impact there, if so...

All the best,

Lish x

Emagggie · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2009, 10:36:43 »

No Lish, no holiday cottages here. Threatened local tv in email to MP. Local radio have done an interview with the chap who organised the spreading of the word. Been to vets this morning to leave flyers, they are only just aware too, and one receptionist had been told it was scaremongering... that's worrying! All happy to spread the word and the flyers though.

Fenris · « **Reply #11 on:** March 05, 2009, 14:47:29 »

I have put a link to this on the Our Dogs forum. They usggested that everyone contact Dog UK and the Kennel Club for help in fighting this.

See http://ourdogs.co.uk/ and click on the Message Board link on the left hand column. Then go to General messages.

Lots of help for and from doggy people there.

Emagggie · « **Reply #12 on:** March 05, 2009, 16:14:09 »

Wow, thanks Fenris. Brilliant. Will do that now.
Welcome to the site too. ;D

ACE · « **Reply #13 on:** March 05, 2009, 17:34:39 »

We have had some of that for ages now. Streets, beaches in summer, childrens play areas. But the main park and sports fields are still lead free. I can go along with all that. I think some jobsworth in your council offices has read the 'crimes against the enviroment' rules wrong. I kid you not, that is what they call walking a dog without a lead nowadays!

I am lucky to be able to ramble public footpaths out in the country, so it would not effect me if they startd off the same scheme with us. But I am d@mned if I would take it sitting down. Keep fighting.

Emagggie · « **Reply #14 on:** March 05, 2009, 19:31:18 »

Thanks Ace. After all my emailing yesterday, zilch! I would have thought just one of the councillors would have acknowledged my mail. I expect they wont bother til it's too darn late. ::)

Hyacinth · « **Reply #15 on:** March 05, 2009, 20:01:57 »

Maggie....backtracking....any idea when this was proposed - and WHY? (Had there been a spate of dogs molesting peeps/anything & someone's jumping on a populist bandwagon, f'rinstance?) And what are their proposed alternatives for free-ranging designated areas for dogs to run and socialise? Have they thought that through and come up with plans?..and if not..WHY not! You say 'the borough'...any idea of the boundaries they're talking about..ie within the Town but not in the country outside it? I'm wondering about the beach...hazily, anything below the high-tide mark (or sommat?) isn't counted as 'owned' property (or whatever) for beachcombing on private property, I'd thought...can, therefore, dogs be allowed to use this area when it's exposed?

(just a few of my free-thinking soddem thoughts..) ::) ;D

Emagggie · « **Reply #16 on:** March 06, 2009, 08:42:10 »

No idea when this was proposed Lish, or why. I'm assuming it's because of dog mess which is no more of a problem here than anywhere else, but we don't have many bins and the ones we do have are not emptied regularly. But that's no excuse, I know. Going to have another shot at actually speaking to a real person today, not hopeful as the council 'hadn't responded' to the local rag at time of going to press.
They also want to make it an offence to use a lead more than 6ft. I'm thinking we will all be penalised for wearing the wrong shoes soon. ::)

Hyacinth · « **Reply #17 on:** March 06, 2009, 09:09:42 »

Good luck today Maggie. As for dog carp....dogs on leads do it, just as much as dogs not on leads....down to responsible behaviour of the owners to clear it.. Don't see that as any sort of valid reason to impose this ban.

Nah, all in all, unless the bods have come up with a good well-thought out plan of alternatives which will be put in place at the same time the by-law/whatever comes into operation, it's a real no-brainer, I reckon >:(

Emagggie · « **Reply #18 on:** March 06, 2009, 13:12:42 »

I presented myself at council offices today....and got to speak to a member of the team :o :o He was quite genuinely taken aback when I pointed out how the proposed notice had come across to the public as dictatorial.
It seems that we are not to be banned from all beaches in winter,and dogs can be let off the lead there. Also we don't have to have our dogs on the lead in all publicly accesible places. 4 dogs only on a lead is fact, and the 6ft. lead thing is only if you have been asked to put your dog on a lead to keep it under control.
The 'officers'(who are also responsible for graffiti, street cleansing etc.) will be concentrating their efforts on known problem areas, so it looks like it's not as bad as it seems, thankgoodness.
What a shame the council didn't take time to objectively look at what they had written before they posted these proposals, it would have saved a lot of worry for a lot of people. ::) :)

Hyacinth · « **Reply #19 on:** March 06, 2009, 18:10:39 »

OK Maggie and well done today 8) Please ask to have ALL bod's words in writing, I'd advise, and throw into him the 'advice' that he/his team publishes same in the local papers to stop any confusion..

Good luck! and might you be seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel here? Hope so, but I'd reeeely want his fingers on paper where his mouth was today :-\

love and luck, Lish XXX

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Author Topic: New Dog Control Orders (Read 8872 times)