Dorset Council is proposing a temporary extension to the former councils’ rules about dogs in public spaces in order to consult the public and introduce new Dorset-wide Dog-related Public Spaces Protection Orders.
It is proposed that the existing Orders of former West Dorset, East Dorset, Purbeck and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Orders be extended to 31 December 2020. This will allow time for Dorset residents and businesses to have their say on a Dorset-wide Order without the expiry of those current orders, so maintaining public safety.
Cllr. Tony Alford, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services, said: “The purpose of Dog-related Public Spaces Protection Orders are to make sure that everyone – with or without dogs – can safely enjoy public spaces. The extension to the existing order will keep the public safe while we ask them for their opinions. The council will carefully consider the views of dog owners and other residents who use public places, as well as local businesses. Their views will help us try to strike a balance and reach a good compromise. We hope we will receive a wide range of views in this next consultation.”
The public consultation is proposed to take place for twelve weeks starting in January 2020.
The proposal to extend the existing Orders and the proposed content of the public consultation will be considered at the Place Scrutiny Committee meeting on 24 October 2019.
I object to ANY extension of times dogs are allowed on our beaches. I strongly feel that all dogs should be banned from beaches at all times in Weymouth and Portland (and that includes Preston) or other beaches. The vast majority of dog owners I have come across show themselves unable to keep their dogs under control and let them urinate and defacate on property of others trying to enjoy rhe beaches as well as being allowed to bark and yap. I feel strongly that dogs should be on leads in ALL public places anyway. I realise there are a large minority of dog lovers who wish to walk their dogs on our beaches. There is a larger majority who do not own dogs and prefer to see our beaches clean, safe for ourselves and our children to enjoy the beaches and sea. There are many other places to walk one’s dogs responsibly.
Yours sincerely,
A resident of Preston, Weymouth.
Tell that to all the humans who leave, dirty nappies, rubbish, fag butts, empty beer cans and urinate in the streets. I object to your objection. If it’s really that bad why are so many dog owners carrying poo bags and being responsible. Any person or animal owner found to be responsible for leaving rubbish, defecting or in charge of any animal or person behaviour in an anti social way should be equally be punished.
It was so nice going to Cornwall for a weekend trip camping and NOW very dog friendly. Not like most people in Dorset who seem to be very negative about dogs. To think our beaches are full of rubbish because of dog’s is very narrow-minded. Most of their beaches are dog friendly and dog’s can go off lead. Dog’s can go in pub’s, shop’s restaurants. But I shall walk my dog off lead on the beach when he can as I’m not going to have some miserable sod ruin my day.
What is wrong with having some beaches where dogs are allowed? Those who don’t like it can use the beaches where dogs are prohibited. Many dogs love the beach, A few irresponsible owners spoil it for everyone else. Have you seen the state of Bournemouth beach after human beings have left it for the day?! The detritus and rubbish is unbelievable.
I’m guessing you’re not a dog fan ? Irresponsible humans are always a problem whether they own a dog or not but frankly the dogs are not the problem.
Dogs on beaches should be banned for the safety of children who do not want to dig sand that is polluted with dog poo! It is no pleasure sunbathing on a beach with dogs barking at each other and sniffing at your food baskets as they are allowed to roam by their inconsiderate owners. Beaches should be allocated for dog walking and there should be areas where dogs are prohibited as we have now.
Have you seen how much mess the HUMANS leave on the beach??!!!! Much much more than the dogs. Also I’ve seen HUMANS urinating in the sea in which people are swimming – and lots of out of control HUMANS – right now there are dog specific areas and a lot of areas they are not allowed during peak times – so stick to those areas instead.
Stop trying to ruin everyone’s fun just because YOU don’t like dogs .
These natural lovely places should be allowed to be enjoyed by everyone & the way it is now is just fine
Many holiday makers bring their digs with them so you would be losing valuable revenue if you exclude them. There are areas and times that dogs are not allowed which fine as it. It is the responsibility of the person whether in charge of a dog or children to set an example by clearing up either the dog poo and the litter. Don’t blame the dog owners all the time. Resection your environment.
I love dogs and I also adore cats. We have two cats, who are kept indoors and in our ‘cat safe’ garden only. A few years ago, we had the misfortune of having a Staffordshire Bull Terrier run into our garden and pick up our elderly, sleeping cat in its mouth and shake it like a ragdoll. Fortunately our cat survived. The owner stood on helplessly watching. It was me that waded in and stopped her dog. I still sadly see dogs off leads barking and menancing at cats. It could equally be a child in danger! There are no laws currently protecting cats, despite the devastation an attack could cause a family. I personally believe ALL dogs should be on a lead and under control in public places.
Well said Jenna. I don’t have a dog. I do have grandchildren who love the beach. A shame there will always be the few who don’t pick up after their animals who spoil it for the many. Maybe there should be free poo bags next to the dog poo bin.
I think people should be banned from using all Dorset beaches; never once has my dog left plastic food wrappers, drinks tins, glass bottles, soiled nappies, broken toys, needles & vomit on the beach. He might pee occasionally, but I can’t pick that up, he might defacate on the beach, which I pick up, unlike any of the afore mentioned people rubbish!
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
Hear hear!
It seems to me that the messiest, most inconsiderate species on the beach and other public places, are humans. If you want to ban dogs, then please ban all people/families who come to the beach, parks etc and leave all there rubbish behind for the rest of us to enjoy and for someone else to clean up!
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
Please provide a link to the text of the existing Orders (of former West Dorset, East Dorset, Purbeck and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council) which you propose to extend.
Hi Neil
Here are the links you asked for.
Purbeck
East Dorset
North Dorset
West Dorset
Weymouth & Portland
I think dogs should be aloud in all public places however you could make some areas where dogs have to go on leads etc. This would support those people who perhaps have a fear of dogs still able to enjoy the area. I do not think it is fair for dogs to be banned from public areas however I think stricter rules for enforcement should be in place to make dog owners more responsible for their dogs. Often you have children and even adults on beaches or parks who’s behaviour impacts others, there is no proposal to ban children and adults. Often family’s leave large amounts of little from picnics behind, the harm this has to the environment and others is huge, however I don’t see how this is being managed and the restriction of animals on the beaches will not reduce this.
A resident of Dorset
People who leave picnic litter and those who leave their dog’s filth in public places are two separate issues. As a dog owner, I accept that I have responsibilities which include ensuring that my dog doesn’t behave in a way that causes distress or annoyance to others, and this includes clearing up after her and making sure that she’s under control. My wife and I wanted to walk across the fields above Bowleaze Cove a while ago, and very quickly changed our minds when we found that they were covered with dog filth. A guest commented that they reckoned that Weymouth is “the dog s–t capital of the South Coast”.
I agree with K bee. Also, children have fenced in play parks for parents to take their kids. Dog walkers have to share increasingly more crowded, smaller public spaces as with SANG’s, which I gather is part of what this is all about. So dog walkers have to deal with cyclists, joggers, children, buggies, prams, children on wheelie things etc. Dog owners should have a safe place to let their dogs off the lead to enjoy some freedom, dogs need to run. I would also suggest that this should not be a space for kids.
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
Dog faeces are common carriers of many diseases. According to the EPA, one gram of dog waste can have up to 23 million fecal coliform bacteria. The bacteria can cause many health issues, including cramps, intestinal illness, diarrhoea, and kidney disorders.
A serious example: Toxocariasis is a rare infection caused by roundworm parasites. Humans can catch it from handling soil or sand contaminated with infected animal faeces.
Roundworm parasites are most commonly found in cats, dogs and foxes, and usually affect young children.
This is because children are more likely to come into contact with contaminated soil when they play and put their hands in their mouths.
Humans do leave litter, but if children touch it they are unlikely to be harmed.
Humans leave broken glass which I often pick up which is definitely harmful
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
And yet society is perfectly happy to ‘use’ dogs as guide dogs, hearing dogs, police dogs, sniffer dogs…. We can’t have it both ways. You cannot both demonise and utilise dogs.
Moreover, many humans leave waste that is highly dangerous – needles, excrement etc – this is equally as dangerous.
Therefore banning dogs merely penalises the many responsible dogs owners and holiday makers who bring a lot of trade to the local area.
It is the behaviour of humans that needs enforcement both dog owners and non dogs owners. We have plenty of anti social behaviour laws – someone should be upholding them for both dog and non dog owners!!
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
Broken glass, sharp plastic containers, glasses, objects etc. We all have to walk on it, as do dogs who are barefoot!
And then there’s all the rubbish and plastic that ends up in the ocean. Clean up after yourselves people!
In reply ‘Joe’.
What’s stopping a cat, fox, badger or other wild animal wandering onto the beach or any other public place and doing their business? Should they be regulated too? Also horses, they often go for a swim and gallop along the beach and nobody cleans up behind horses. Seagulls poo… and they go on the beach. Ban them!x
Bournemouth needs to learn from Devon and Cornwall where dog friendly is the way forward.
This area is bound to attract dogs and they are here to stay
Dogs should be allowed on the beach especially in winter months
Dog owners pay rates the same as anyone else and also bring a lot of business revenue to the area
In addition most dog owners now collect rubbish and plastic from the beaches saving the council work
As a dog owner I also pick up other dogs mess and rubbish left by families, tourists and local people such as nappies ,broken bottles ,crisp packets, baby food cartons ,carrier bags and more especially in the summer months
Anyone who leaves rubbish or poo on the beach should receive on the spot fines and unpredictable dogs should be kept on a lead at all times just as screaming children should be controlled
There should be child/dog friendly areas in bars and cafes and dogs should always be on a lead in built up areas and shops
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
I agree with everything you wrote. And…families/children have allocated areas that dog owners can’t use like ‘Play parks’. There should be enclosed, safe areas for dogs/owners to have a round around. These enclosures should not be mistaken as child friendly spaces – it’s for dogs not kids.
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
It’s all very well saying that it’s only the dog poo that is sometimes left on beaches by irresponsible dog owners, but there is surely some fluid excreted along with some and that never gets cleared. There is the question of the urine left in the sand that unsuspecting bare footed people can walk in, let alone children who may fall down into it. What would people say to humans urinating in the sand? If beaches are to be used by dogs, then they should only be allowed in restricted areas where people can avoid.
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
Why not just leave things alone -do we not have enough restrictions and regulations on our lives? If you treat an adult as a responsible individual, general that’s what you get. If you treat them as a child (which is what society (and potential protectionist laws like this) is increasingly doing), then delinquency will follow. Leave legislation for serious matters
Please share your views on our consultations https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/consultation.aspx?consult=e9fbaebd-4540-4e69-bb32-067edb2daba8
Concerning dog access to the beaches in Lyme Regis ….statistics tell us that 25% of UK households have a pet dog, which means 75% do not, and yet dogs have been allowed on every beach in town all year except the sandy beach in the summer season. I think this is totally disproportionate. There are two beaches, East beach and Monmouth beach which are used for dogs which is quite enough. The sandy beach and the main seafront pebble beach should be dog free all year so that children, old people and in fact everyone can enjoy a clean, dog free area to enjoy without dogs jumping up at them, defecating & urinating, and chasing anything that moves.
As regards to Lyme Regis’ beaches, I think the main beach and the adjacent sandy beach should be dog free all year round as dog walkers have access to the huge Monmouth beach and East beach and Church beach.
Dogs are the intermediate host to many human parasites including one that affects the eyesight of children. The sandy beach in particular is popular with children even in the winter.