A consultation has started by Dorset Council on a new Dog-related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).
This PSPO identifies where, when, and how dogs can use green spaces and beaches. The current PSPO has been in place since January 2021 and is due to expire at the end of this year.
The consultation will be a chance for people, residents, business owners, organisations, and visitors, to have their say on where and when they think there should be restrictions on dogs in public places, including beaches. It will also cover topics such as fouling and lead length.
The PSPO is in place to protect human health. Dog fouling is not only deeply unpleasant, but it is also dangerous. Human contact with dog excrement can cause toxocariasis – a nasty infection that can lead to dizziness, nausea, asthma and even blindness or seizures.
This order gives protection to public spaces that are used by a range of activities including sports fields, playgrounds, and beaches.
Cllr Laura Beddow – Portfolio Holder for Culture and Communities said:
“As a dog owner myself, I know how important it is to exercise your pup responsibly. There are an amazing variety of places to walk dogs, without the need to use public spaces where children and families spend time.
“The consultation will gather information from dog and non-dog owners, residents and visitors and other organisations such as town and parish councils. All this information will be considered to make the new PSPO.”
The consultation will finish on 25 August. Start the consultation. Paper copies will be available in Dorset libraries or on request by calling 01305 221000.
The final recommendation for the new PSPO will be considered by Dorset Council’s Place and Resources Overview Committee and Cabinet.
As a responsible dog owner I’m supprised at the way this consultation has been worded and presented to the public making it seem as though anyone coming in contact with dog poo are going to be infected with a deadly desease and Will likely die, completely misrepresenting what the facts are, facts are what people want not bias from people with an agenda to alter the outcome of a unbiased consultation, just deplorable,
Cllr Laura Beddow – Portfolio Holder for Culture and Communities said:
“As a dog owner myself, I know how important it is to exercise your pup responsibly. There are an amazing variety of places to walk dogs, without the need to use public spaces where children and families spend time.
(Except those families who have assistance dogs) who are not restricted please see Equality act, Disability act, Mental Health Act those who have protected characteristics, the Human Rights Acts
“The consultation will gather information from dog and non-dog owners, residents and visitors and other organisations such as town and parish councils. All this information will be considered to make the new PSPO.”
As you have know made everyone belive it is only dog who carry this, please provide us with up to date information,
The PSPO is in place to protect human health. Dog fouling is not only deeply unpleasant, but it is also dangerous. CAT AND FOX TOO Human contact with dog excrement can cause toxocariasis – a nasty infection that can lead to dizziness, nausea, asthma and even blindness or seizures.
(Facts from the NHS website
Dogs, Cat and fox poo contains these worms, Toxacariasis is Not caught from Fresh poo, it’s normally caught from soil or sand that contained worm eggs for a few weeks or months.)
Most people who swallow the worm eggs that cause toxocariasis do NOT become ill.
Rarely, the worms can spread to parts of the body such a the liver, lungs or eyes.)
This order gives protection to public spaces that are used by a range of activities including sports fields, playgrounds, and beaches.
(WHERE THOSE WHO HAVE ASSISTANCE DOG ARE PERMITTED, ARE OFTEN ABUSED BY PEOPLE WHO FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THEY ARE NOT RESTRICTED)
(Since the introduction of the first PSPO unfortunately Dorset Council, their officers and staff have failed to bring to court just one fine for Dog Fouling 95% of dog owners pick up and bin it.
We have written on many occasions with suggestion, we have taken it upon ourselves as the dog community to litter pick, encourage other dog owners to carry extra bags approach fellow dog owners with spare bags. I’ve just returned from Devon where their system works, Bins clearly marked, Red bins in parks, gardens and on the beaches. A QR code for people to scan to report full bins, there are no signs on lamppost threatening fines for not picking up as the PSPOs )
We have seen the increase in dogs with social issues following the pandemic. This has shown how important it is to have spaces where dogs can socialise with other dogs and with people.
It is vital there are spaces where dogs can exercise and socialise. Where dogs can lead walk and run free. These should be in all sorts of locations beach, sea, woods and open spaces. Including some fenced areas for young puppies to train in a safe environment.
Without the provision of these spaces we will foster an increasing amount of anti-social dogs. These will be a danger to people and other animals.
In these spaces there should be an adequate provision of dog poo bins.
Hi Julie – please complete the survey to give us your views. Fiona
The current restrictions relating to certain parts of Weymouth Beach, including Greenhill, should remain exactly they are. Moreover, these restrictions should be firmly enforced. This does not appear to be the case. There was a ridiculous suggestion by a councillor (maybe others also) that dogs should be able to access the beach between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. Try enforcing that just before and after. Too many dogs are let off leads in public parks/gardens and, as the dog population has obviously increased, so do the health risks. I frequently notice dogs pooing in Greenhill Gardens and, while most owners clean up after their pet, there’s bound to be some residue. If the current restrictions are relaxed, the minority of irresponsible dog walkers will cause annoyance to other beach users even more than they already do.
Hi Jonathan, please complete the survey so that we can make sure your thoughts are captured. Fiona
As Grandparent with an autistic grandchild living in Weymouth who also has her own dog, I’m appalled at no signage on the beach showing assistance dogs permitted, I’m also concerned at the lack information made accessible to the public,and incorrect information bandied around by Laura Beddows, creating an obvious bias towards dogs and encouraging people to have anti Dog attitudes,which also makes it very difficult to have a free fair consultation. Also the poor way the council have gone about encouraging the public to participate, resulting in an unfair result to the referendum.
We are fortunate enough to live on Greenhill with direct access to the Prom. Maybe four times this year one or other of us has slipped on dog excrement that has been left close to our garden gate. The owners allow their dogs to urinate and sh*t around our Prom gate. It stinks and is a trip/slip hazard. I know it’s not all owners, but I believe it to be most. Where they think they can get away with it why would they pick it up? We often see dogs off the lead on Greenhill beach sometimes running and jumping up at swimmers and children, especially now since the good weather began (the restrictions are simply ignored). DCC will never have the resources to effectively stop this, even the signs informing dog owners when not to use the beach are being pulled down (by whom?). It seems as tho’ there is a war on cyclists and yet no policing of dogs off leads or on really long almost invisible leads. I haven’t got the answer, but we need to base whatever we do on facts. Dogs are like children to dog owners. Owners simply do not understand that other people may not want them jumping up, sniffing their shopping, or fouling/urinating everywhere. In Gibraltar on a recent trip all the dog owners seemed to have a water bottle with presumably some washing up liquid in it, they squirted it over where a dog had peeded – seems sensible to me rather than our stained and smelly Prom (sure dog owners would disagree). In conclusion, dogs are scaring some people, causing others to slip and tread in poo and causing a nuisance by being a trip hazard when on long leads. Someone will get injured – it’s inevitable.
We feel this is important information not reflected or mention in any wording of the consultation document, people including dog owners still believe assistance dog are guide dogs only.
This is a girl know age 12 Dorset Dog Warden Service have been made aware of the fact her family suffer abuse from members of the public. We feel Portfolio Holder Cllr Laura Beddows should have availed herself of this before she made the statement about children and dogs in the same public space.
We raised awareness of children with autism who rely on assistance dogs in our charity calender in 2021
Please remember Zoe and Max when you complete the consultation in fact there is a comments box at the bottom maybe just pop a comment asking for all signage on beaches and play parks in Dorset should clearly display this and not rely on a QR code for people who may not have smart phones, equality, human rights, disability act all covers this
This is my best friend Max.
He’s a very special dog with a very special job. You see he’s working hard to learn how to help me be safe in the world and help the world become less overwhelming for me. Mummy is helping him to learn to give me light and deep pressure when I need it, find me when I hide, keep me safe when we are out and interrupt my harmful repetitive behaviours like hitting my head. He’s amazing and I love him lots. He is my owner trained autism assistance dog in training.
Zoe age 10
I own 2 dogs myself, but the beach is no place for dogs. Also, dogs should be kept on leads on all public paths and walkways. I take my dogs out every day. My dogs are kept on leads until I get to a quiet, deserted field when I let them run free. Every day I have to put up with other people’s dogs running around off their lead and pestering my dogs whilst getting to and from the fields.
With the increase of dog attacks causing death and injury to children and adults together with possible infection from their faeces i.e. toxascaris
causing eye blindness, I for one do not want to see dogs on beaches amongst children.
I am a dog owner and have very young grandchildren who like to go on walks or the beach with our dog who is part of the family often comes too. Most dog owners are responsible for picking up the dog poo. For those that don’t perhaps more stringent fines and the presence of the dog warden would deter the few inconsiderate ones. I would NOT like to see dogs banned from the beaches, I am happy with the restrictions as they are. It’s is very good for your well being and mental health walking with a dog and is a very social activity as people often talk to you, where if you are on your own hardly anyone speaks to you.
One other aspect DC may wish to consider. Living near The Fleet RAMSAR site one sees dogs off leads being allowed to leave designated footpaths, trespass over the fields and enter The Fleet RAMSAR site. Resting/feeding and ground nesting birds (and snakes, mammals etc) are disturbed. The increasing numbers of dog walkers has increased the pressure on wildlife. It seems to be recognised that our wildlife is under increasing pressure yet dogs are allowed (or not discouraged) to leave footpaths and chase wildlife. Should dogs be required to be kept on short leads on footpaths in wildlife areas? Simple for DC to erect signs on the gates etc. We also suffer from dogs off leads entering gardens.