New dog control orders for Birmingham
Dog owners across the city will see new regulations from 1 March as the city council implements five new Dog Control Orders. Irresponsible owners who ignore the Orders face on-the-spot fixed penalty notice and fine of £80.
Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, the orders will tackle irresponsible dog owners who fail to control or clean up after their pets. Failure to pay the fixed penalty could result in prosecution and a maximum fine of £1,000.
The five Orders are:
- The Fouling of Land by Dogs Order 2014 - it will be an offence for a person in charge of a dog to fail to remove faeces forthwith from any land to which the public have access. This order will replace and extend the existing controls under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.
- The Dogs on Leads Order 2014 - it will be an offence for a person in charge of a dog to fail to ensure that a dog is kept on a lead at all times on all public roads, adjoining footways and verges.
- The Dogs Exclusion Order 2014 - it will be an offence for a person in charge of a dog to permit the dog to enter into or remain in any clearly demarcated children's play area, and school land.
- The Dogs on Leads by Direction Order 2014 - it will be an offence for a person in charge of a dog to fail to put that dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer on any land to which the public have access and is open to the air.
- The Dogs (specified Maximum) Order 2014 - it will be an offence for a person to take more than four dogs onto open land in Birmingham.
There will be exemptions for assistance dogs.
Cllr Barbara Dring, Chair of the city council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “Birmingham continues to deal with high numbers of complaints regarding stray and uncontrolled dogs and dog fouling issues. The message is simple, pick up or pay up.
“Residents, including responsible dog owners, are fed up with the nuisances and dangers caused by a minority of thoughtless dog owners. The Orders will give additional powers to officers in order to tackle these issues.”
Ends
i WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DOG ONLY CONTAINED AREA’S IN PARKS, JUST A FENCED OFF AREA AND IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HUGE. IT WOULD BE SAFER FOR PEOPLE AND DOGS AND I AM SURE THE COUNCIL COULD FIND THE FENCING FROM OLD OR SURPLUS STOCK, COME ON, GIVE DOG OWNERS SOMEWHERE TO GO…