Fears of a dog ‘gestapo’ unfounded, says council (From Worcester News)

Fears of a dog ‘gestapo’ unfounded, says council

2:30pm Tuesday 13th January 2009 in

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DOG owners in Wychavon have been assured a “gestapo” would not be set up to snoop on them if tough new dog control orders are brought into force.

Wychavon’s district councillors said responsible dog owners have nothing to fear from proposed guidelines which suggest allowing your dog to walk off its lead in public places in Wychavon could potentially result in a prosecution and £1,000 fine.

Under the planned dog control orders, which fall under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (2005) and were discussed by Wychavon’s executive board on Tuesday night, dogs would be banned from all enclosed children’s play areas.

Council leader Paul Middlebrough said: “We are not setting up a gestapo for dog owners, but we don’t want messy business in places where children play or people walk.”

The orders also say dogs must be kept on a lead at all times on public pavements, verges and footpaths within 40mph or less traffic zones.

It would also be an offence for any person in charge of a dog which defecates on public land not to remove the faeces.

All dogs would also have to be put and kept on a lead when the owner is told to do so by an authorised officer.

If agreed by the council, the orders would come into force on Wednesday, April 1 – but council chiefs insisted the rules would probably only be enforced when complaints were received about dogs from members of the public.

Simon Jorden, head of environmental services, said: “We are not going to be draconian. We are not going to be patrolling it but if there are complaints, we have the legislation in place to deal with it.”

Councillor Anna Mackison, executive board member for the environment, said: “We want to take a responsible attitude to this legislation.”

The council deferred a final decision on the rules until its next meeting.