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Are we in for another attempt by the council to make us keep dogs on leads?

During the last Proposals for the Dog Control Orders in 2007 the council proposed that dogs must be on a lead "on all promenades abutting an area where there is a dog exclusion zone" This once again comes directly from Encams criteria handbook for awarding a Quality Coast Award.

We know that the council have been applying for the Award even though the beach at Ryde didn't meet the criteria requirement "excluding dogs from at least part of the beach (to include the bathing area)" And now by coincidence they intend to change the existing DCOs to incorporate this. However changing the rules merely because the beaches do not meet the criteria on these points is hardly a necessary and proportionate response to problems caused by the activities of dogs and those in charge of them, which the DEFRA guidance #29 clearly states. And the council wont supply the fines statistics which would be evidence of whether a problem actually exists or not.

But Encams are well aware that this Quality Coast Award has been in place throughout the summer season and that the beach does not meet their criteria, yet they have done nothing about that judging by the flags still flying. So much for the prestigious Award, and so much for Encams checks in the first place.

Now lets have a look at the Quality Coast Award Criteria.

We will consider two categories A and B.

They both state that dogs must be excluded from at least PART of the beach (to include the bathing area)

But A states "Dogs should be kept on leads on the seafront"

Whether Ryde has A or B we were unable to establish from the councils website (and there is hardly any point in asking them given their track record on supplying information relevant to this consultation) but if it has an A we have another instance of them applying without the beach meeting the criteria. However if we have a B there is no requirement for dogs to be on leads, so a B would appear to be a reasonable compromise in order to balance the interests of those in charge of dogs against the interests of those affected by the activities of dogs DEFRA guidance #30

But keep your eyes peeled when the proposals are announced as seeing the influence Encams have over them we wouldn't be in the least surprised if this raises its ugly head again.

Quite frankly if the beach is too polluted to get a Blue Flag what's the point in pretending its award winning, especially if the Awards are handed out willy nilly regardless of the criteria, which just makes them meaningless.

Category A - Resort Bathing Beach

• A dog bye-law or control order excluding dogs from at least part of the beach (to include the bathing area) during the bathing season should be in place

• The dog bye-law or control order should be managed and enforced

• Dog bins and appropriate signage should be present

• Dogs should be kept on leads on the seafront
  

Category B - Bathing Beach

• A dog ban is not compulsory for this category. However, where practical,an enforced dog-bye-law or control order excluding dogs from at least part of the beach (to include the bathing area) during the bathing season is recommended. If a dog ban is not in force during the bathing season, a clear dog control policy must be in place before an award can be made

• Dog bins and appropriate signage should be present

Here is KC Dogs views on a requirement to keep dogs on leads

KC Dog would be concerned about plans to introduce an Order that would make it an offence for a person in charge of a dog not to keep it on a lead in parks, sections of parks, open green spaces etc. If your council is thinking about introducing an order to this effect, KC Dog would urge the council to consider the following points:

• That keeping dogs on leads could adversely affect a dog?s health, weight and behaviour if it had been used to running around vigorously. Doing so could be contrary to the principles of the Animal Welfare Act.

• That an order to keep dogs on leads would affect a dog owners? ability to exercise a dog thoroughly i.e. in terms of age, fitness level and time availability.

• If these dog owners have to travel to neighbouring areas to exercise their dogs off the lead, this would have potential negative effects on government targets to improve the environment and reduce congestion as dog walkers would have to drive their cars to other locations to walk their dogs.