Dogs on leads

[ForestPaul]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

No, I was thinking more generally - tackling any law breaking in our cities, towns, villages and the countryside.

Certainly having a national organisation tasked with enforcing the law could be an interesting idea. It might be the case though that, having limited finance and resources, they might concentrate on what they viewed as the most serious offences, such as murder, robbery etc, and be reluctant to commit resources to patrolling open access land to enforce the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) relating to dogs.

On a more serious note though, the law is there but compliance is only going to come from education. The National Parks, Ramblers Association, NFU, and even the Kennel Club publicise the restrictions and responsible dog owners generally comply. The problem is the attitude that some people have that it doesn't apply to them or their dog (who 'wouldn't hurt a flea', is 'only being friendly', 'likes a run around' etc). How you get through to such people (and the litter louts as well) who are one of my pet hates, I don't know, but I don't think the answer lies with police officers patrolling moorlands.

[stevecurtis]

From the Guardian here :
Accidents cost the NHS about £1bn a year. The most common cause of injury was falling, which led to 119,203 admissions to casualty.

Thousands suffered attacks from a wide variety of animals. These included 451 people stung by hornets, 46 bitten by venomous snakes and lizards, 24 bitten by rats, 15 injured in contact with a marine mammal, two people bitten by centipedes and one attacked by an alligator. But dogs accounted for most injuries with 3,508 people suffering bites.
This is a serious problem and anyone who can cut these figures would not in my mind be dodgers.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by ForestPaul

Certainly having a national organisation tasked with enforcing the law could be an interesting idea.

Nah - on second thoughts it'd probably never work! The streets of our major cites are far too dangerous for them, and they'd just keep safely in their headquarters watching blurred and indecipherable CCTV images of villains committing crimes.

Jim

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by jim ford

you could have special people employed full-time to enforce laws. They would need to be easily recognisable, so could be given a conspicuous uniform to wear. They would need a headquarters for them to co-ordinate their activities, but they shouldn't just sit around in their headquarters, but should patrol and check the areas where laws might be broken. They should also be give the power to take a law breaker back to their headquarters, for a decision to be made concerning their possible punishment.

These people are obviously going to be important enough to need a special name - any suggestions?

Jim

rofl

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by ForestPaul

It might be the case though that, having limited finance and resources, they might concentrate on what they viewed as the most serious offences, such as murder, robbery etc, and be reluctant to commit resources to patrolling open access land to enforce the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) relating to dogs.

Common sense prevails!!

This thread is about dogs running off leads and the possible impact on distrurbing wildlife, it is not a debate on Policing in the UK.

Basically if you have a problem with the police and wish to make sarcastic non-wildlife related comments, please go and do it somewhere else, this is a wildlife forum!!

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Basically if you have a problem with the police and wish to make sarcastic non-wildlife related comments, please go and do it somewhere else, this is a wildlife forum!!

Police - that's it! I knew there would be a good name for the organisation!
;^)

Jim

[stevecurtis]

Thank you Steve, I believe dogs off leads is a huge problem for wildlife especially ground nesting birds on commons etc it seems to be totally overlooked or more likely swept under the carpet, lets all blame the farmers its easier.

All the best Steve

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by stevecurtis

Thank you Steve, I believe dogs off leads is a huge problem for wildlife especially ground nesting birds on commons etc it seems to be totally overlooked or more likely swept under the carpet, lets all blame the farmers its easier.

All the best Steve

It is without doubt a problem that needs attention, however my own opinion is that the solution lies with educating the irresponsible dog owners, the vast majority are well behaved and do not let their dogs run wild.
Quite how you go about educating the ignorant idiots is another matter I guess

To be honest blaming farmers is way off the mark, as a rule farmers hate irresponsible dog owners and the problems that they cause for livestock and wildlife and will more than willingly challenge them whenever possible.

[stevecurtis]

Sorry Steve I meant blaming farmers for the decrease in farmland birds is all to easy when other things contribute as with our common its dogs of leads in nesting season causing the the decrease.

all the best Steve

[Littlesparrow]

One of the worst cases of cruelty i ever saw was caused by a farmer letting his own two dogs run wild. They killed several of his sheep by biting their necks and other ones had broken legs from trying to get away. He let it happen more than once as there were old dead corpses in the fields. Yes the RSPCA did know about him and his farm was getting closed down.