Dog ban not total

Published on 7th February 2008 in Letters

Sir - I was a bit surprised when I read about the ultra-tough line I had apparently taken on dog walkers in a recent issue (January 17).

In fact, the Dog Control Order I had asked for would not ban dogs completely from anywhere apart from playing fields, play areas, bowling greens, other sports facilities and the BMX track. In the rest of the park areas they would be allowed on a lead and with an obligation on owners to clean up after their dog.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council had left a lot of our sites off the Dog Control Order, such as playing fields at West and South Park which already suffer terribly from fouling, which makes this an urgent health and safety issue. I wasn't happy with that and asked for all relevant areas to be included. We also obviously need lots more enforcement.

Having said that, I know many people are worried about the risks of dogs to children. You can't open a paper without reading of yet another child who has been attacked. And it can be terrifying for small children to have big dogs bounding up to them, even if the owners think they are being "playful".

I remember being attacked myself as a child and many other people have had the same experience. When I was attacked the dog owner obviously felt bad about it because he didn't really know his dogs. Nobody can ever be totally sure what dogs will do around children. If a child was attacked in one of our parks then the council would rightly be sued if it had failed to take steps to control loose dogs.

Of course in the 'Me, me, me' society we now live in, many people don't seem to believe they have any responsibility to control their dogs. Ultimately, if those people don't get their act together then I can see the day when councils will have no alternative but to ban dogs completely from their land.

Whether that happens is ultimately down to dog owners themselves.

Kester Dean

Cumberland Close, Goole