Do dogs need to be on a lead in a park?

Dogs in Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) If you're responsible for a dog, you need to: keep dogs on leads in designated areas. In Leeds this includes all roads, pavements and footpaths (included gated alleyways) next to carriageways. Also where signage is in place, in cemeteries, crematoria, specialist gardens, and some council owned golf courses. Dogs can be let off the lead in parks except in areas where there is specific signage in place. Put dogs on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer such as a dog warden and police officer. Keep your dogs under close control.

Dogs should be on leads in public spaces. Obviously, as animals, they need a healthy amount of exercise and I’m not advocating for all dogs to be banned from all parks, but I do think there is a reasonable conversation to be had on encouraging dog owners to have better control of their animals. I can also see the logic in dogs being restricted to only some parks or perhaps certain sections of others. Urban settings are designed for humans, not animals. Letting dogs off the leads in urban parks and then scrolling on your phone while they run wild is surely not that responsible. A dog on a lead allows those who are scared, allergic, unable to move fast, whatever, to move past them unperturbed. A dog off the lead can be chaotic. If your dog really needs to be off a lead to stretch its legs, get yourself out of the city. The council has said the rules are a response to violent dog attacks and repeated fouling. Under the proposals, dogs would be excluded from “all gated play parks and sports areas” and would have to be kept on leads in “all public spaces in the borough”.

However, in some areas we ask you to keep your dog on a lead. We also ask you not to take dogs into the fenced children's play areas or onto bowling greens, cricket wickets and other sports pitches. Please follow these guidelines when visiting Ealing’s parks and open spaces with your dog: keep your dog under proper control – remember, not everyone likes your dog as much as you do! The ranger service will enforce relevant legislation to cover irresponsible dog ownership, dog fouling, dangerous dogs and stray dogs. Responsible dog ownership We hope that people will show responsible dog ownership while within the parks and open spaces of Ealing. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that the owner of a dog or the person in charge of a dog that is not wearing a collar in a public place shall be guilty of an offence against the Animal Health Act 1981. Dogs must wear a tag embossed with the name, address and telephone number of its owner. Dog owners are legally obliged under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 to clean up after their dog fouls. If they fail to do so they can be issued a fixed penalty notice of £80. All bins except those in playgrounds can be used to dispose of dog mess. Apart from being very unpleasant, dog mess can be a health hazard. The eggs of the parasite Toxocara canis, often found in dog mess, can remain in the ground long after the mess has decayed. They may then be picked up, perhaps by children during play, and be transferred from hand to mouth. At worst this can result in blindness. Dangerous dogs are the responsibility of the police but please report any incidents to the ranger team as well as the police.

It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as: in a public place. Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it: injures someone makes someone worried that it might injure them. A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply: it attacks someone’s animal the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal. You can report a dog that’s out of control. You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months (or both) if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.