Should all dogs be walked on leads?

krlyr

Was it definitely the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981? I couldn't see it anywhere in that, I could only find mentions of it in articles (one saying its from the protection of livestock act instead, but I couldn't find it in there either)

I would have thought your local park, mead, countrypark etc. were all 'public path'

Dimey

krlyr wrote: »

Was it definitely the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981? I couldn't see it anywhere in that, I could only find mentions of it in articles (one saying its from the protection of livestock act instead, but I couldn't find it in there either)

I would have thought your local park, mead, countrypark etc. were all 'public path'

This is the link to the act: -
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69

Chapter 69 Part 1 seems the relevant place. But it doesn't seem to limit the protection to the closed season. Maybe someone more legally trained will be able to interpret the wording better than me.

Valli

caringa wrote: »

Totally agree. My daughter and I were walking with our dog off lead along a riverside path the other day when an elderly couple approached us with a huge Ridgeback dog on a lead. Our dog, being very sociable, went up to sniff and say "hello" - their dog reared up and the woman shouted"you'd better get you dog away othewise mine will rip yours to shreads!! We couldnt believe our ears, as this is a very popular path for families and dogs, most of whom are off leads.


We were so flabergasted that we just quickly walked on but on reflection, wish we had said that their dog should have been muzzled if they thought it capable of "ripping" our dog to shreds. Whats more, they were quite elderly and wouldnt have stood a chance controlling their dog had it decided to attack our dog - or a child!

You wouldn't let a CHILD approach a perfect stranger to say hello...why would you let your dog approach a strange dog?

Dimey

I've found more laws !
Having browsed a bit, I think the law is referring more to controlling a dog around agricultural land than in a park but I could be wrong. A park is indeed still a public path. Links below: -


Animals Act 1971

Animal Welfare Act2006

Control ofDogs Order 1992

Dogs (Protection ofLivestock) Act 1953

Wildlife and Countryside Act1981

Edit - This is the act that talks about the closed seasons: -

Game Act 1831

In a nutshell. Frightening, injuring or killing wild game birds is againstthe above laws. As our dogs are our "property" we are held accountable. In the closed seasons, dogs must be under the control of their owner or keeper on a fixed short lead and not stray off the public path.

Moving on to all wild birds - Under section 1. of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981- Protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs.
If any person shall -
•intentionally kill, injure ortake any wild bird
•intentionally damage, destroy ortake the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built
•intentionally destroy an egg ofany wild bird
•intentionally or recklesslydisturb certain wild birds or their dependent young while they are at or nearto an active nest site
•kill or take huntable birdsduring the closed season for that species
•disturbs dependent young of sucha bird
He shall be guilty of an offence.
If you let your dog off the leash, are you intentionally allowing him to do any of the above?