Councillor Mark Shayer

The Kennel Club

10 Clarges Street

 London W1J 8AB

3 April 2023

Councillor Mark Shayer
C/O Council House
Armada Way
Plymouth
PL1 2AA

Dear Mr Shayer,

Re: Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order
I am writing to you regarding the Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) for Plymouth City Council in relation to the ban on off-lead dogs on sports pitches.

The Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare, and training. Our objective is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners. We campaign for and advocate on behalf of dogs and their owners and, as part of our external affairs activities, engage with local authorities on issues such as PSPOs.

The Kennel Club is the only national organisation named by the UK Government as a body that local authorities should consult prior to introducing restrictions on dog walkers and is considered the leading canine authority on dog access. As such, we would like to highlight the importance of ensuring that PSPOs are necessary and proportionate responses to problems caused by dogs and irresponsible owners. We also believe that it is essential for authorities to balance the interests of dog owners with the interests of other access users.

We have been contacted by local dog owners concerned that there are not enough dog walking sites, and ask Plymouth City Council to bear this in mind for when the PSPO is up for renewal in October 2023. We would specifically urge you to look at a potential seasonal restriction/time restriction rather than an outright ban in certain areas. Below are reasons for a less restrictive approach -

Exclusions

It is important that alternative provisions are made for dog walkers in the vicinity to avoid displacement or the intensification of problems in nearby areas. Dog owners are required to provide their dogs with appropriate daily exercise, including “regular opportunities to walk and run” – in most cases, this will be off the lead while still under control.
 When seeking to restrict access to playing fields, local authorities should consider whether or not it is absolutely necessary. When they are not in use, they can be a vital resource for dog owners to ensure that their dogs get their required daily exercise. As such, time and/or seasonal restrictions may be more appropriate than a continuous exclusion order.
   campaigns@thekennelclub.org.uk
 
 Displacement

A common unintended consequence of restrictions is displacement onto other pieces of land, resulting in new conflicts being created. It can be difficult to predict the effects of displacement, and so the council should consider whether alternative sites for dog walkers are suitable and can support an increase in the number of dog walkers using them.

Dog fouling

The Kennel Club strongly promotes responsible dog ownership, and believes that dog owners should always pick up after their dogs wherever they are, including fields and woods in the wider countryside, and especially where farm animals graze to reduce the risk of passing Neospora and Sarcocystosis to cattle and sheep respectively.

We would like to take this opportunity to encourage the local authority to employ further proactive measures to help promote responsible dog ownership throughout the local area in addition to introducing Orders in this respect. These proactive measures can include: increasing the number of bins available for dog owners to use; communicating to local dog owners that bagged dog faeces can be disposed of in normal litter bins; running responsible ownership and training events; or using poster campaigns to encourage dog owners to pick up after their dog.

If you have any questions or would be interested in discussing this please get in touch by emailing helen.kenward@thekennelclub.org.uk.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Ed Hayes

Head of Public Affairs The Kennel Club
 
campaigns@thekennelclub.org.uk