Support for South Lakeland dog control orders

8:00pm Tuesday 18th December 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Mike Addison, Assistant editor

AN ‘OVERWHELMING’ majority of people in South Lakeland want to see Dog Control Orders introduced in a bid to create cleaner streets.

South Lakeland District Council carried out a three month consul-tation on the issue – and 88 per cent of the 1,200-plus people who responded either ‘strongly’ sup-ported or backed the principle of DCOs.

That included 578 respondents who own and walk dogs.

Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, DCOs would deal with issues such as dog fouling as well as canines out of control that can cause road traffic accidents, nuisance and aggression.

The four types of dog control order available under the legis-lation, which the council wants to introduce, are: n Fouling of land by Dogs Order – a person in charge of a dog must clean up after the dog on public land.

n Dogs on Leads Order – a person in charge of a dog must put the dog on a lead when directed by a person authorised by SLDC.

n Dog Exclusion Order – all dogs would be excluded from designated areas such as children’s play areas.

n Dogs on Leads Order – all dogs to be kept on a lead on highways and footways/pavements in built-up areas, cemeteries, parks, gardens and promenades at Ambleside, Bowness and Arnside.

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If SLDC introduces DCOs, a person not complying with the orders would be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice carrying a penalty of £75 and could also be subject to prosecution.

Coun Clare Feeney-Johnson, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said the clean streets consultation was launched in response to calls from residents to address a number of issues.

“The local community has helped to shape the end result by being directly involved in the consultation and I would like to thank everone who took the time to complete the questionnaire and give us their views,” she said. “The council can now look at putting the most suitable measures in place, which will result in cleaner streets for all in South Lakeland.”

To find out more about the council’s proposals and the results of the consultation visit www.southlakeland. gov.uk or contact the SLDC Contact Centre on 0845 050 4434 or email cleanstreets@southlakeland.gov.uk

Comments(24)

snuggle-bunny says...
9:17pm Tue 18 Dec 12

I've got a really good idea- why not spray dog mess pink to shame the dog owners, that should sort it out

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worldsgonemad says...
10:20pm Tue 18 Dec 12

So, how exactly are they going to actually enforce this?

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nickjohn says...
10:51pm Tue 18 Dec 12

worldsgonemad wrote:
So, how exactly are they going to actually enforce this?
I must agree how is this enforceable. They will have to employ people to walk round catching people allowing their dogs to foul and not clean it up then issue a fine - surely the people doing this are not going to give their real name and address so how can they enforce the fine???

I thought there were already fines in place for dog fouling, how much revenue is generated from this at the moment...

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Moonbase says...
8:05am Wed 19 Dec 12

As a new responsible dog owner I have found that alot of the problems of fouling is done in the cover of darkness.
Your as likely to see a dog warden as a policeman.
What's laughable is that it took 3 months to state the obvoius,J* where can i job like that.
They are as thick as the stuff itself or in some cases not so much so.....
'Barking Mad'

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jazzactivist says...
9:18am Wed 19 Dec 12

I am a dog owner and responded to the consultation. I think it is right for dogs to be on leads at all times in public places. That means that dogs are always under their owner's control and the owner can't easily ignor it when the dog defecates. In the response the figures appeared to be an overwhelming majority of 80% of respondents wanting this in Ambleside, Bowness and Arnside, and 62% in Grange. So I am disappointed that Grange Prom isn't included in the dogs on leads ruling. I live in Grange and have had several encounters on Grange Prom where dogs off the lead have aggressively come over to my dog, who is on his lead, while the other dog's owner ignored it. I have also seen dogs defecating while their owner walks blithely on. Politely asking dog owners to put their dog on a lead or pick up after them usually illicits being ignored or abuse. Surely, leaving Grange out of the new laws will mean that feckless dog owners from other areas will now come to Grange to let their dogs behave badly?

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Adam_Kendal says...
11:33am Wed 19 Dec 12

As a dog owner, I too get frustrated at the amount of mess left by those owners who don’t care. I also get angry at those owners who feels it’s okay to pick up the mess, but then throw it in the bushes!

That said, I have to agree with the other comments, how is this enforceable? SLDC do not have the same powers as the police to obtain your name or address so the wrong info could be given, nor do they have the powers to call someone at the Council to confirm the details given due to data protection laws – the plan is flawed already!

Also, in the 10 years I have lived in Kendal I have not once seen a dog enforcement officer (is that what they are called?) So if SLDC can't get it right now, who are they possibly going to get it right going forward?

I agree something needs to be done about it, but I do not believe this is the way. We have a number of CCTV cameras in the town already, can these not be used more to record people/dogs in action? I know this won’t solve the whole problem, but it’s likely to cover areas when people are most likely to stand in it such as streets, promenades etc and partially reduce the reduce the problem.

Right, I’m off to take my dogs for a walk…

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KingofGrasmere says...
1:26pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Cull all dogs and donate the money spent on vet fees and winalot to charity

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Tegan says...
2:55pm Wed 19 Dec 12

KingofGrasmere wrote:
Cull all dogs and donate the money spent on vet fees and winalot to charity
What a horrible thing to say!!! Even if your not a dog person that's just pure evil!!

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Adam_Kendal says...
2:58pm Wed 19 Dec 12

KingofGrasmere wrote:
Cull all dogs and donate the money spent on vet fees and winalot to charity
What a moronic thing to say?

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boris plasticmac says...
4:12pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Just walked down Finkle St and it was awash with litter.
Maybe people control orders should be introduced. We could have PCO's to deal with out of control humans who are causing road traffic accidents, commiting nuisances and being aggressive.

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snuggle-bunny says...
4:43pm Wed 19 Dec 12

why not cull the owners instead

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Lakeuk says...
9:25pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Well the council said bringing in these bylaws would allow them to get the issues resolved although Coun Clare Feeney-Johnson when interviewed by Radio Cumbria didn't have a clue how the new bylaws would be used in practice, only that other councils had brought these bylaws in - not exactly a good of do research.

Locals have spoken, the council unusually have taken note and given it the rubber stamp or have they just got the response they wanted anyway.

So in the coming year will hear about people being fined and the dog mess problem reducing or will the council just go quiet, time will tell.

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Ladyxxmacbeth says...
8:41pm Thu 20 Dec 12

When I had a dog i let it do its business before going out for walks. Worked for me? And as I've said before why don't people train their dogs to poo in the drains or in the road by the time cars have driven over it a few times its gone. Or make dog toilets so there's a treat that they get if hey poop there!

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Moonbase says...
9:28pm Thu 20 Dec 12

KingofGrasmere wrote:
Cull all dogs and donate the money spent on vet fees and winalot to charity
Cull of all dogs....Erm with a noble name of king of whatever you also talk what comes out of my dogs bum!
It's an inherant problem that lazy stupid people don't look after their dogs or children.....I'm supprised that you have'nt got one or both?
Hope you turkey burns!!!!

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ukmann says...
8:17am Fri 21 Dec 12

I think it should be made compulsory (like in other European countries) that dog owners have to take a course followed by a test to show that they're capable of being in control of a dog. The dog should have to have been put through a course followed by a test to prove it's safe to be on the streets around people and traffic and all dogs should be chipped so that if and when they're controlled the identity of the dog and owner can be easily confirmed.

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hevonly says...
12:23pm Fri 21 Dec 12

As a responsible dog owner myself, my suggestion would be to stop people walking dogs, and ask them to provide at least 2 empty poo bags, if they can't be provided then you would then be photographed and your details taken and a fine issued.

On a recent Florida holiday, we noticed along all the residential streets (we didn't walk in the town centres), that they had poo bins and free poo bags and scoops for you to pick up mess, these were every 100 yards or so. We didn't see any mess at all whilst we were there. Mind you, they swept and washed all the walkways every couple of days too.

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848848 says...
1:04pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Forget a dog control consultation process as it means nothing to the council as they always do as they please or if your thoughts match theirs they will say they have listened.
Dog owners whose dogs poo and they do not clean up after them need a £1000 fine. They also need to be tasked with a community order as a Dog Poo Sweeper each Saturday for a month. If they are a minor the responsibility lays with the dog's owner.
Pain is the only deterrent.

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ukmann says...
2:36pm Fri 21 Dec 12

There's a lot to be said to hitting the owners where it hurts the most ........... And when they stand up again they could be fined a thousand pounds ...... Hahaha

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848848 says...
5:30pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Your correct ukmann as I agree a repeat offender needs a more harsh penalty as a deterrent.
Its a shame our judiciary are reluctant to act....

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WilliamT says...
10:48am Sat 22 Dec 12

It's not going to be enforced, and it's not going to make any difference- everyone claims to be 'a responsible dog owner' so you wonder where all the mess comes from- aliens? In fact, every time you go out you see more owners letting their dogs foul than you see cleaning up after them. Without fines and publicity (for human litterers too!) there is no hope for improvement.

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BillP says...
2:14pm Sun 23 Dec 12

Enforce the £1000 fine. That will provide a sharp incentive to clean up after your dog. Also photograph the offending owners and put their pictures on a noticeboard in the Westmorland shopping centre. It is time to stop accepting this sort of antisocial behaviour.

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lakesailor says...
2:17pm Sun 23 Dec 12

snuggle-bunny wrote:
I've got a really good idea- why not spray dog mess pink to shame the dog owners, that should sort it out
I hope that was ironic.

The thought of pink turds everywhere doesn't bode well for Bowness

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ukmann says...
4:22pm Sun 23 Dec 12

They are already spraying dog mess pink in parts of Scotland to shame the not so responsible owners and to highlight the problem. I personally always speak to the people when I see them let their dog mess the street or drop litter themselves. Of you say "excuse me you have dropped something" they almost always pick it up. The dog mess is different. They almost always go red and quickly walk away. Don't let them get away with it. Speak your mind and tell them it's wrong.

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Pringle1982 says...
6:37pm Sun 23 Dec 12

The trouble is, the people who let their dogs out on their own and don't bother clearing up aren't the ones to be ashamed of their actions so publicly shaming them won't work - it'll be like ASBO's more of a "badge" to these morons.

Fines need to be higher and they NEED to be enforced to stop these irresponsible owners (I have 4 dogs, we always clear up), but they also have to make it easier for us who do clear up. There are NO bins on most walks - not just for dog waste, but any waste!

Litter and dog mess is getting worse and worse. Kendal in particular looks disgusting most days. How the council will enforce this is beyond me.

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