Wansbeck District Council To Leave Dog Owners Stranded

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Wansbeck District Council To Leave Dog Owners Stranded
17-Jan-08

Council continues to propose a ban of dogs from Newbiggin Beach

Looking at the minutes of the Newbiggin by the Sea Regeneration Partnership meeting that took place on 27th September 2007, it is clear that there is the aim to implement a dog control order to exclude dogs from Church Point to the Needle Eye all year round, rather than only during the summer months. KC Dog, the Kennel Club’s responsible dog owners’ network, understands that beaches are not always suitable places to exercise dogs during the summer months, as the beaches are busier at that time. However, since beaches are not normally as busy for the rest of the year, KC Dog does not believe there is a valid reason to ban dogs from the beach all year round.

Defra’s guidance on the legislation being used by the council in Newbiggin states that: “It is important for any authority considering a dog control order to be able to show that this is a necessary and proportionate response to problems caused by the activities of dogs and those in charge of them and; any authority needs to balance the interest of those in charge of dogs against the interests of those affected by the activities of dogs and that a failure to give consideration to these factors could make any subsequent dog control order vulnerable in the Courts.”

Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club Secretary commented: “KC Dog fully supports reasonable dog control orders in many areas of the country, and has worked with councils to help them implement these successfully in the past. In the case of Newbiggin Beach, however, we believe that dog owners are being unfairly treated. There is no reasonable argument to exclude dogs from the beach during the winter months. This order would benefit no one and severely curtail the rights of dog walkers and the welfare of their pets, and we strongly urge the council to reconsider their position.”