Weymouth dog lover starts internet campaign to fight control orders (From Thisisdorset)

Weymouth dog lover starts internet campaign to fight control orders

2:00pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

By Ian McDonald »

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A DOG lover is campaigning for a rethink over controversial canine control orders in Weymouth and Portland.

The borough council has ordered walkers to keep dogs on leads on certain areas of public land.

The long list of affected land includes recreation areas, formal gardens, cemeteries, allotments, and certain parts of Weymouth Beach in the summer months.

Fiona Wilson, 25, says the orders are ‘unfair’ on responsible owners and has started a group on social networking website Facebook in opposition.

But Weymouth and Portland Borough Council says the new laws are a fair reflection of extensive public consultation.

Fiona, from Weymouth, said: “When I found out the borough council had brought the orders in, I was fuming.

“I cannot believe they’ve done this and limited where we can walk our dogs. It’s an unfair ban.”

Fiona used to keep greyhound Benny on the lead while she let collie cross Batty off at sites including Lodmoor and The Marsh.

She fears the new laws will actually make problems with irresponsible dog walkers worse.

“There are irresponsible owners out there who don’t clean up after their animals, which is the main problem,” she said.

“But if they’re not allowed to let their dogs off, they’re not going to get any exercise.

“You’re also going to get more dogs fouling on pavements.”

Fiona, of Stanley Street, says the remaining options under the new orders – the Rodwell Trail and an area at Preston – are no good to her.

“I don’t drive so Preston’s too far,” she said. “And my husband Chris doesn’t want me walking on the Rodwell Trail alone – it’s too secluded.”

Now Fiona has set up the Facebook group – entitled ‘Weymouth Council, Please Let Dogs Off-lead in More Areas!’ – to drum up support.

“A lot of dog owners feel the same as me and I want to do something about it,” she said.

“More than 200 people joined the group in a few days.

“This is my way of reaching out to the council and seeing if we can reach a compromise.”

But borough council community safety spokesman Ian James said: “These dog orders came about after extensive public consultation.

“Everybody – people with dogs and people without – got their say and the laws we have are a reflection of what the public wanted.

“No matter what decision you take, you’re never going to please everybody.

“I think what we’ve come up with is pretty balanced.”

Comments(46)

likeitornot says...
2:27pm Mon 15 Mar 10

So are we now saying that democracy is going out of the window to be replaced by Facebook because I am sure if somebody started another page on Facebook in support of the council that would get just as many supporters if not more. Dog owners seem to be under the impression that it’s all about dog fouling and it’s not it’s about people having the freedom to walk without being harassed by dogs, dog fouling is only one of many issues. Perhaps as part of her Facebook campaign she should ask how many dog owners have third party insurance and I think that would be very few. What is needed is a dog licence with compulsory insurance and micro chipping and more dog wardens so that any dog can be identified any dog found without a chip should be confiscated I am sure that most dog loving owners would comply and any that don’t should not have dogs in the first place.