Also tell us if you think powers excluding dogs from designated areas should be widened to include school grounds, remembrance and wildlife gardens.
Current orders empower our staff to instruct people to put dogs on a lead in public if they are causing a nuisance. Dogs are also banned from play areas in some parks. During summer 2011 we asked residents of Leeds to let us know what they thought about proposals that dogs should be on a lead at all times in certain areas.
We recognises the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and clean up after their dogs keeping them under proper control. However there is a minority of people who do not act responsibly and this creates a number of problems and concerns which residents have asked the council to deal with.
1. Dog Exclusion (Leeds) Order
The council now proposes that this Order should be amended to add other land designated for a specific purpose such as remembrance and wildlife gardens where a dog may cause damage and disturbance to the area even when under close control. It is also proposed to include areas such as school grounds where it might not be possible to keep a dog under close control due to likely distractions which may endanger young and vulnerable people. The existing list of children’s play areas has also been updated for the new amended schedule.
A full list of the land covered by the current and proposed new Exclusion Order is available to download on the right.
2. Keeping Dogs On Leads At All Times (Leeds) Order
The council proposes to make a new Order stating than on certain specified land dogs should be on a lead at all times. It is proposed that this Order be applied to all carriageways and adjacent footpaths and grass verges within the Leeds City Council district to ensure that any dog is kept under control at all times and minimise the risk of accidents. It is also proposed that this Order be applied to cemeteries and crematoria. This is because dogs can cause considerable anguish to visitors at an already distressing time, especially if creating a disturbance or fouling.
A copy of the consultation documents and lists of land proposed for inclusion in the amended Dog Exclusion Order can be inspected at Environmental Action Services, Millshaw Park Way, Leeds, LS11 0LS.
The consultation closed on 14 October 2011.
From 1 February 2011 the following Dog Control Orders have applied to the Leeds Metropolitan District and the above changes would be an amendment and an addition to these Orders.
The Dogs On Leads By Direction (Leeds) Order 2011 - Not putting, and keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer
An authorised officer will only give a direction under this Order to put and keep a dog on a lead if such restraint is reasonably necessary to prevent a nuisance or behaviour by the dog likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to any other person on any land to which this Order applies or the worrying or disturbance of any animal or bird.
This Order does not replace the requirements of Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 which covers the offence of having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.
This Order applies to any land within the area administered by the Council which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access either with or without payment (including open country and common land to which the public have access and referred to as access land).
The Dogs Exclusion (Leeds) Order 2011 - Exclusion of dogs from specified land
This Order will allow the Council to reduce dog fouling and complaints about nuisance dogs by excluding dogs from designated areas. An offence is committed by allowing a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded. A full schedule of the land included in the Order is available to download from this page.
Please note, these designated exclusion areas refer to the specific play areas as described on the schedule only and not the whole park area.
The Dogs Specified Maximum (Leeds) Order 2011 - maximum number of dogs to be walked at a given time
Offence is committed when a single person walks more than 4 dogs. Applies to any land within the area administered by the Council which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access either with or without payment (including all access land).
Dog Fouling
Failure to clear up after a dog. This Order has been in force since 2006 and applies to any land within the area administered by the Council which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access either with or without payment (including all access land).
Please be aware that offences listed above will not apply to registered blind persons or to persons who rely on an assistance dog trained by Dogs for the Disabled, support dogs or Canine Partners for Independence with a disability affecting mobility, manual dexterity, physical coordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects.
The penalty
The penalty in relation to any offence in any Dog Control Order is, on summary conviction, a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (£1,000).
A person may be offered the opportunity to discharge any liability to conviction for any offence under any Dog Control Order by payment of a fixed penalty. The specified amount of the fixed penalty is £75.