Wrexham Dog Owners Urged To Have Their Say On Proposed Restrictions

The UK's largest dog welfare organisation, the Kennel Club, is urging dog owners in Wrexham to have their say on proposals which could restrict where people can walk their dogs in the area.

Wrexham County Borough Council is seeking the views of local residents and visitors to the area in a dog access consultation it is running to determine the need for Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), which replaced Dog Control Orders, under the Anti-social, Crime and Policing Act 2014.  PSPOs can exclude anyone with dogs from specific places and require that dogs are kept on leads at all times in certain areas.  The council is also seeking views on dog fouling in the area.

The Kennel Club's campaign group, KC Dog, is alerting its members and local dog owners to the consultation to ensure that the outcome is as fair as possible for all parties.

Specific restrictions the council is consulting on include bans on dog walking on certain areas, and whether or not dogs should be kept on leads at all times in parks and open spaces.  The Kennel Club believes that total bans for dogs on public open spaces or requirements to keep dogs on leads in open public spaces must be necessary and proportionate, and should only be used as a very last resort, as open spaces can be ideal for dogs to be exercised off lead, which is important for canine health and wellbeing.

Furthermore, the Kennel Club holds the view that any ban or restrictions on dogs from public spaces should be based on evidence and only implemented if there is a genuine need, such as to protect the wellbeing of both people and dogs.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "This is the perfect opportunity for dog owners in Wrexham to have their say on the proposals so that the council can make informed and fair decisions that will be best for all those who enjoy the local area.

"Some aspects of PSPOs, such as the requirement to pick up after a dog, are very sensible measures to help promote responsible dog ownership. However, other aspects such as a ban on off-lead dog walking may not be welcomed by the many responsible dog owners in the area whose pets enjoy local public spaces without any issue. 

"Dogs need a good deal of exercise, including off lead, so we would not want to see restrictions that have a negative effect on the amount of exercise responsible owners can give their pets."

The consultation closes on 27th June 2016.

KC Dog is a dog owner campaign group, free to join, which keeps members updated on dog access issues, and other relevant Kennel Club campaigns, which may affect dog owners across the country.