Dogs' freedom set to be muzzled in safety crackdown
Dog owners are set to be banned from letting their pets off the lead in public in a health and safety crackdown.
Animal lovers are furious at the moves which would see a blanket ban on dogs running free in public open spaces except for in a handful of designated dog exercise zones.
But council leaders say it will keep children safe from dog attacks and help keep public areas free of dog mess.
The controversial move, which is to go before Gosport councillors, will make it an offence punishable by prosecution to let a dog off the lead outside the zones.
People will be able to let their dogs loose on beach areas at Lee-on-the-Solent and Stokes Bay – but only between October 1 and March 31.
The proposal comes after one person was attacked by a dog and four bitten while breaking up dog fights in Gosport in the last 12 months.
The authority has already received 95 complaints about the proposals – but some people are in favour of the move and would like to see other councils take them up.
David Salmon, 68, of The Spur, Alverstoke, takes his two dogs Holly and Charlie walking every day around Stokes Bay.
'I've never taken a lead out with me for my dogs and in 10 years I've never had any problems,' he said. 'If your dog is well behaved I don't think that there's anything wrong, and walking a dog on a lead all the time just isn't good enough, they need to run around too.'
The Kennel Club, a national charitable trust for the welfare of dogs, has also spoken out against the plans.
Caroline Kisko, club secretary, said: 'The proposal to ban dogs from being off leads would mean that dogs would not be properly exercised, and is therefore not a realistic solution.'
But some dog owners are in favour. Elizabeth Smith, 67, of Redwing Court, Milton, Portsmouth, was attacked by two Dobermans last year.
'I think it's a good idea and the dogs would still be getting exercise, but everyone would feel safer.
'I'd like to see other councils take this up,' she said.
If the plans are approved it will also make it an offence not to clean up dog mess or to walk more than six dogs at a time.
But blind people with guide dogs would not be affected by the rules.
Councillor Peter Chegwyn, chairman of the council's community and environment board, said: 'We have a great many responsible pet owners in the borough who regularly clean up after their pets and who keep them on a tight rein near young children.
'But sadly we also have the irresponsible ones who just don't seem to care that adults and youngsters are treading in their dogs' faeces.'
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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