Is it a legal requirement to keep your dog on a collar and lead when walking
him along a main road? An adult dog who was being walked off-lead in my area
recently ran across the main road and attacked a puppy, who was seriously
injured. When I spoke to a policewoman about the incident, she told me
there is no law stating that a dog should be kept on a collar and lead when
being walked along a highway. Surely it is common sense to keep your dog on
a lead next to a busy road?! It would only take a second for my dogs to be
distracted by a playmate on the other side of the road and they would be
off! I often see dogs walked off-lead along the busy road and dread to think
what would happen if they were to run into the path of a car. There seems
to be no clear guidance. I wonder where the law stands?
Carol Ward, Nr Norwich
I think it would be good if there were safe and secure areas in parks for dogs to be allowed off the lead.
ReplyDeleteMy dog and I frequently get jumped on by other dogs off the lead when walking. Often, dogs have crossed roads unsupervised to get to us...followed by a manic owner desperately trying to 'control' their dog but shouting at it!
I have seen signs in many parks that instruct 'dogs muct be kept on a lead.' Perhaps this is the next method councils will use to enforce this.
I have no problem with this rule but i hear many people complaining about it.
I understood dogs should be kept on lead alongside roads, legally.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/ukpga_19880052_en_3#pt1-pb6-l1g27 says:
"A person who causes or permits a dog to be on a designated road without the dog being held on a lead is guilty of an offence."
Would make no sense for owners to be allowed legally to walk their dogs off-lead along a road, would it.
Sue, many dogs need to be able to run freely. I would hate to see us turning to the "US way" where dogs seem to be confined to on lead walking or "dog parks" in many areas. But that's a different subject from owners irresponsibly walking dogs off lead alongside a road, anyway, isn't it.
Angela
The Kennel Club, kindly provide the following information:
ReplyDelete"The Road Traffic Act 1988
It is an offence to have a dog on a designated road without it being held on a lead. Local authorities may have similar bye-laws covering public areas.
Dogs Act 1871
It is a civil offence if a dog is dangerous (to people or animals) and not kept under proper control (generally regarded as not on a lead nor muzzled). This law can apply wherever the incident happened. The dog can be subject to a control or a destruction order and you may have to pay costs"
As mentioned yes it's against the law. Not many police officers can possibly know every law, especially when dogs come under more than just the obvious ones, that's why we have specialists who know their own subject.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not it would be seen to be in the public interest to prosecute someone is another matter. :(
I saw someone walking their puppy down my street the other day. Not even a collar, let alone a lead. :(
I am interested in the 'dog park US way' mentioned by Angela.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to USA so cannot say from experience if dog parks are good or bad. I agree that dogs should be allowed to run free. Is there a problem with the dog park? From what i have seen, they seem nice safe ways to exercise a dog? Is this not really the case.
Hi Sue
ReplyDeleteI've never had a dog in the US either but walked in Central Park in New York a few years ago with a dog and his owners; they were only allowed off lead there at certain, quite restricted, times of day. I understand a lot of so-called "dog parks" are very small, and may be the only areas in the locality where dogs are actually allowed off lead. I would hate to have to keep my dogs on lead everywhere else - can you imagine going to, say, the beach or the New Forest and having to keep your dogs on-lead? Not to mention the fact that some of the dogs will be "in your face" if not actually aggressive, not brilliant if you have a nervous dog!
Which is why these control orders being brought in by many councils are a worry.
good point...didn't think about beach / new forest type places.
ReplyDeletei guess its a case for the owners to 'police' their own dogs ...its a shame ALL owners are not responsible ones and cause these sort of issues to be something the councils feel they have to deal with. (perhaps not in the best ways!)
oh dear...i can see a whole new debate brewing ... :)
Hi Sue, was going to say similar to what Christine has said with regard to the US dog parks :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see the UK becoming more dog-friendly, not less - but of course the irresponsible dog owners don't help with that, do they :-(