Off lead dogs on pavement AGAIN!

krlyr

The law is that dogs have to be on-lead on designated highways. But not every road is a designated highway - I believe each council designates them, therefore the council have some say over the way the law is enforced as such.

Also there's the dangerously out of control in a public aspect side of it, but that's unlikely to be used if it's just a dog-to-dog issue, such as an off-lead dog running over to a reactive on-lead dog.


Tough if the DW and council aren't on your side, but I'd suggest perhaps getting together with the other local owners who are struggling with it and take it further. Writing to an MP perhaps? I've had issues with a local dog allowed to stray (owner literally has cut a hole in his fence for the dog to wander freely into the adjoining park) and after asking for contact details of who I can raise the issue with further, the DW has escalated my complaints.

meritaten

KMR1984 wrote: »

I was under the impression it was an offence to have a dog off lead on a public highway? Does this differ from council to council?

We have signs all over lamp posts around here regarding fines for your dog being off lead/fouling.

I wouldn't dream of keeping mine offlead near a road, even if I were allowed to.

Would it be worth getting together with some of the more sensible dog owners and approaching the council, asking them to consider a change to the local laws?

Same here in Caerphilly County Borough. and tbh nearly all dog owners observe it.

I would contact a local councillor and ask for this to be brought up in council meetings. or maybe the local paper?
its not just dog owners who are affected. local mums may not like the fact that dogs are allowed 'offlead'?

missindecisive

I carry stick when I walk mine...very good for waving at dogs that decide to approach then start being aggressive. They usually back off if it looks like your going to take action!
The thing is, dogs will be dogs, they're animals and its to be expected that they will have their little squabbles. Its the owners that get me....."oh he's not normally this naughty". " oh he's so good at home. Blah blah blah". Its far better if someone just says "don't come close, this ones not friendly". They are the best owners, they don't try and kid themselves or anyone else.

neveranymoney

I agree missindecisive, the man directly across the street from me has two schnauzers who DO NOT like other dogs at all and my neighbour knows this so keeps them on a lead and carrys a stick to ward off ambitious dogs (for their protection more than his own I think) and the man will cross the street or change direction, giving a friendly nod at the same time and it saves such a lot of bother.

Twice now we have been in local fields with shadow off lead and a man has approached the entrance with three dogs on lead and on both occasions, he has waited quietly until we have noticed him, we, in turn have saddled madam back up as he obviously does not want any interaction and that is up to him and then he waits until we have moved on, again with a cursory nod of thanks in each direction. The first this happened, it's sounds stupid, but it made my day! There was no handbags, it was polite and everyone was happy!

wiltslass

I do not have dogs now but so agree about the number of off lead dogs on pavements nowadays. Most people keep their dogs on leads however there are a few who do not. In the main the off lead dogs are well trained and well behaved. However there have been occasions when one of my cats has been in my garden and the dog has rushed across the road to chase it! The owners do not have the complete control over their dogs that they think they have and no amount of shouting stops the dog from rushing over. it will probably take a road traffic accident caused by their dog for them to realise it. Years ago dogs had to be kept on a lead and I do not understand why it has changed.

GwylimT

Our current dog is the only one we have had that is a lead user as he was attacked by a dog and since then he has been very aggressive towards other dogs, so if we leave him outside the local shop he also needs a muzzle.

I always warn people before coming near my dog as he is unpredictable with other dogs, but he tends to accept them if I stroke them and make a fuss first, but you might still get the occasional growl.