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Following from the last KC Dog bulletin, the Kennel Club has been given advance notice that the following local authorities are currently consulting on dog control orders: 

The consultation period will be completed before the next issue of KC Dog is released which is why we wish to provide our members with as much information as possible in order for them to air their views. 

Links to the consultation or contact details of the local authorities are listed below where available.  More information about the outcomes of this consultations will be listed in the next KC Dog bulletin.

If your local authority is not listed below but you are aware of dog control orders or consultations being introduced in your area please email laura.vallance@thekennelclub.org.uk or call 020 7518 1020.

Dog Control Orders Open to Consultation:

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council is planning to consult on proposed dog control orders in the coming months . 
The Kennel Club is currently liasing with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and will inform participants when the consultation is opened to public consultation.

Harborough District Council
The Council is intending to consult on dog control orders in the next 6 months.

Rochford District Council
The Council consulted informally in 2007 and is expected to open the formal consultation process in the next month

How to respond to consultations on dog control orders

General points to consider

• The implications of Orders i.e. on those who may find compliance difficult i.e. elderly people or children.
• Whether the authority plans to issue guidance to the public about how to comply with new Orders.
• Whether the Authority will be installing signs about Orders at popular dog walking sites.
• Potential negative effects on government targets for health and reducing congestion i.e. if there was a decrease in the number of people taking regular daily exercise by dog walking or driving to other locations to walk their dogs.

Points to consider relating to Orders on keeping dogs on leads:

• That it may be unacceptable to keep dogs on leads in parks where the dog would have been used to running around.
• The dog’s health, weight and behaviour if it had been used to running around vigorously.
• A dog owners’ ability to exercise a dog thoroughly on a lead i.e. in terms of age, fitness level and time availability.
• Points to consider relating to Orders on excluding dogs from certain areas
• Whether the Authority will simultaneously establish dog friendly areas of open land in the same location.
• The availability of alternative routes already available.
• Non-dog owners’ perceptions of dogs as a result of their being banned.

Points to consider relating to Orders on restricting the number of dogs a person can walk:

• Welfare implications of leaving dogs in a car while other dogs are walked i.e. it is extremely dangerous to leave dogs in a hot car.
• Dog theft implications of leaving dogs in a car while other dogs are walked
• A dog owner’s ability to exercise a large number of dogs thoroughly if they were to have to do this in shifts i.e. in terms of fitness level and time availability.
• The type of dogs i.e. it may be difficult to control two very large dogs, but easy to control eight small dogs therefore blanket bans are unreasonable.

Points to consider relating to Orders on dog fouling:

• It is the duty of a responsible dog owner to pick up after their dog.
• The Authority’s plans to increase the number of poo bins alongside introducing dog control orders.
• The Authority’s plans to produce advice for dog walkers on how to dispose of faeces in areas where there are no waste bins (and/or waste bags) present.
• Exempting elderly people from dog control orders if they find it difficult to pick up after their dog or providing long handled poop scoops to help.

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