Dogs On Lead In Parks

Should dogs be kept on the lead in the park?

Manchester City Council are taking the initiative in a new drive to enforce dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead whilst in the park.

They propose to stop dogs running loose completely in 15 parks, and in selected areas in 97 others and dogs will be banned completely from play areas.

Dogs will be excluded from play areas, sports grounds and cemeteries and there will be a limit on the number of dogs people can take on public land.

The parks highlighted include parts of Heaton Park - one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, Ardwick Green Park, Beech Road park in Chorlton and Sackville Street.

There would be an on the spot fine of £80 for those dog owners found with dogs off the lead.

Manchester City Council says the ban will help tackle dog fouling and the problem of stray dogs.

The council currently spend £33,000 on cleaning up dog fouling, £100,000 on dog services like dog wardens who round up 1,000 stray dogs per year.

Councillor Paul Murphy, executive member for Direct Services, said:
"We know that we need to take further steps to control dogs as all the feedback that we get from talking to residents has identified dog fouling and stray dogs as a real problem.

"Most dog owners in the city are considerate and responsible but as always a minority do not care and it is this minority that we want to tackle with these new proposals."

 Keeping dogs on the lead in the park would also increase safety for children, the elderly joggers and cyclists.

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