Dogs: A request

A polite request to dog owners:

There have been a few incidents in the parish recently with regard to dogs either biting or causing alarm amongst the public.

While the parish council has no jurisdiction – it’s purely a matter for the police – we would ask that dog owners remember their obligation to keep their dog under control at all times when in a public space.

Clearly the vast majority of dogs are docile, and similarly, owners consider their dogs to be harmless. But to non-dog owners, a dog can cause alarm.

This link gives the relevant law on dogs, but in essence, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 covers not just situations where a dog has bitten, but also where it causes someone to have a ‘reasonable’ fear they could be injured.

To repeat, the council is unable to help with complaints about dog attacks, it’s a matter for the police on 101 or 999.

Unlikely as it may be, no-one wants a repetition of the death, last week, of the child from a dog mauling. And nor does the council want to see action taken against owners of their dogs.