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Stoke on Trent City Council is proposing to introduce Dog Control Orders (DCO’s) to help keep the minority of irresponsible
dog owners in line with the majority of responsible dog owners.
What do the Dog Control Orders cover?
- Failure to clear up after your dog has fouled.
- Allowing your dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded.
- Not putting, and keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer.
- Not keeping your dog on a lead in an area where dogs are not allowed to run loose.
Breaching these regulations could lead to a fixed penalty of between £50 and £80. Failure to pay the fixed penalty could result in a prosecution of up to £1,000.
Over the next month the team will be contacting dog owners, community groups and other organisations to gauge their opinion on whether orders are needed in the city, as well as inviting comments from the public.
If this pre-consultation highlights a need for dog control order, a full consultation will be held to determine where they should be put in place, and if the costs of the current fixed penalty charge of £50 should be increased.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the pre-consultation can email dogcontrol@stoke.gov.uk or contact the Environmental Crime Unit on 01782 234234.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I've been told to put my dog on a lead. Why?
A. A dog owner must put their dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer of the council. This applies across the whole of the city. It 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.
There may be occasions when you cannot control your dog as well as you would like to; perhaps because of other dogs in the area. Sometimes, other people may feel intimidated even though you feel you have your dog under control. An authorised Council officer may therefore ask you to put your dog on a lead. This may only be for a short time and once the situation has changed the officer may agree to you letting your dog back off its lead.
Stoke on Trent City Council recognises that it is very important for animals to be sufficiently exercised and support responsible dog owners in promoting healthy lifestyles. Many dog owners exercise their pets, not only to help their dog remain healthy, but to meet other people and to exercise themselves. We fully support this and in the majority of parks throughout Stoke-on-Trent, most areas continue to be available for you to exercise your dogs on or off the lead. However remember that when your dog is off lead, you must take extra care to ensure your dog does not frighten or alarm other animals or people.
Q. I didn’t see it happen!
A. Being unaware of the offence is not an excuse. Please ensure your dog is kept within sight and under
proper control at all times.
Q. It’s not my dog/I don’t have a bag on me!
A. If you are the person in control of the dog at that time then you are legally responsible for it. Not having a bag to pick up the faeces is also not an excuse; you should always take a bag out with you.
Q. What do Dog Control orders mean?
A. Failure to abide by a Dog Control Orders could result in you receiving a 'fixed penalty notice' or being prosecuted under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. Prosecution can result in a fine of up to £1,000. You may be given the opportunity to discharge your liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty notice then no further action will be taken against you for that particular offence.
If a fixed penalty notice is not paid, you may be prosecuted for the offence. The easiest way to avoid prosecution or a fixed penalty notice is to be a responsible dog owner and not to commit the offence.