AVIAN flu restrictions stating that dogs must be on leads in areas of Worcester are to remain in place indefinitely – but there is confusion over whether they should be.

Worcester City Council confirmed signs instructing the public to keep dogs on leads by the River Severn are “being kept in place in line with guidance from Public Health England” but rules, put in place in November 2020 to curb the national outbreak, changed on March 31.

Public Health England (PHE) – whose emblem is on the signs put up by the city council – said the issue was a matter for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) but added it “is no longer the case” that restrictions are based on national guidance.

PHE said any decisions to take them down would be “up to the local authority’s own risk assessment”, adding “the signs can come down if they wish”.

That information was put back to the city council who said officers continue to work on the belief that the rules should still be in place.

Marilyn McCarthy of the Worcester Swan Feeding Project argues dogs should be on leads by the river, particularly around wildlife, amid ongoing safety concerns. 

She said the problem was also present near Worcestershire's County Hall where injuries such as these have killed swans. 

Worcester News:

“Dogs jump in the river and sometimes swim after swans and that can be quite dangerous,” she said.

“A blow from a swan could knock out the dog and it could drown, you get people jumping in after the dogs. There is a wider issue about dogs.

“It is the law that dogs are under control at all times and you know they absolutely are not, you see them running far ahead, down the banks, the owners don’t know where they are.

“This doesn’t refer to all dog owners and you do see dogs walking to heel very nicely but not all owners are thinking about the whole situation and the fact that the river can potentially be dangerous.

“Generally swans are afraid of dogs, swans are prey and if they have young to protect they will lay down their lives. They are big birds and they have quite a strong blow from their wings if you interfere with them.

“The swan usually comes off worse but it is not certain it will. Experience shows what problems there can be so it would be sensible for everyone have their dogs on lead by the river, it would make sense.

“Dogs ought to be under control and they are not. Why not?”