Dog control fines come into force in Leeds next month

Dog owners and walkers in the city who don’t clear up their dog's mess or have the necessary bag to do so could face a fine from December 2018.

New dog control orders came into effect earlier this year (July 2018) requiring anyone walking a dog to carry a bag or have some other way to pick up and remove their dog’s mess, as well as there being additional locations within the city where dogs will be required to be placed on a lead. Dogs are also prohibited from Leeds City Council owned tennis courts and multi-use games areas.

The council took the decision to allow a number of months ‘grace period’ for the education of dog walkers on the necessary responsibilities and for people to get used to the new legislation.

This legislation, which falls under Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO), builds on previous dog control orders that included the dog wardens powers to ask owners to put a dog on a lead (where it is causing a nuisance) and the maximum number of dogs that can be walked at any one time (six for professional walkers and four for others). The fixed penalty notice for anyone not adhering to the new orders is £100, or £80 if you pay the fine within 10 days.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council executive board member for environment said:

“The primary aim is to encourage good habits throughout the city. With the co-operation of residents, visitors and businesses, we hope to see a great improvement throughout Leeds resulting in high standards of cleanliness.

“We don’t want to have to fine people, so it is a simple case of doing the right thing, putting litter in the bin and picking up their dog’s mess.”

To find out more about the restrictions and fines in place visit; https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/environmental-health/responsible-dog-ownership

Notes to editors:

About PSPOs

PSPOs deal with a particular nuisance in a defined public space where this is having a negative impact on the quality of life for those in that public space.

In order to introduce a PSPO the local authority must be satisfied the behaviour that is being

restricted is:

• Having or is likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality
• Is persistent or continuing in nature
• Is reasonable
• Justifies the restrictions imposed

The PSPO lasts for a maximum of 3 years, but can be extended beyond this time.

The current PSPO around dog control builds on the following areas;

• Leads – An existing requirement for dogs to be kept on leads adjacent to the carriage way city wide, but also in some areas where it is appropriate to keep dogs under closer control, such as ornamental gardens, cemeteries and crematoria. Additional locations that will now be added to the schedule will be the area around the wildfowl lake at Golden Acre Park; Ornamental gardens at the Hollies and Lotherton Hall; Middleton Community Bike Hub; golf courses at Roundhay and Temple Newsam; the children’s play area at Springfield Park Guiseley; and cemeteries/churchyards at Whinmoor, Kippax, Elmete, Yeadon and Holy Trinity Rothwell.

• Exclusion – An existing requirement for dogs to be excluded from most children’s play areas and remembrance gardens. Additional locations that will now be added to the schedule will be Swinnow and Moortown children’s play areas; all Leeds City Council owned tennis courts and Multi-Use Games areas (MUGAS).

• Maximum number of dogs to be walked at any time – this is a city wide existing requirement, but withclarity added for professional dog walkers. Individuals can walk a maximum of 4 dogs at any time, but professional dog walkers can walk up to 6 provided that they do not walk with or alongside other people walking dogs. Any professional dog walker walking alongside others loses their professional privilege and can walk a maximum of 4 dogs.
• There is an exemption from the requirements of the order for those who are registered blind, deaf and have an assistance dog for this purpose and for those who have an assistance dog provided by a prescribed charity and who have a disability that affects mobility, manual dexterity, physical coordination or ability to lift, carry or move everyday objects.