Making dogs wear leads at L’Ancresse ‘a step too far’
REQUIRING dogs to be on leads on Vale Common is a ‘step too far’ some owners have said.
Vale Commons Council announced yesterday that after a spate of aggressive behaviour and increased fouling that all dogs should remain leashed while in the area.
‘My feeling is that this is an exaggerated response,’ said one man walking his Labrador without a lead yesterday morning. ‘This is a step too far and I wonder if it is a power trip of some sort.’
The law states that dogs must be kept under control at all times in a public place, meaning they should have immediate and reliable recall.
One man said he had been walking his son’s dog along the common daily for a number of years.
‘I just think it is ridiculous. If he was on a lead he would just be dragging me around,’ he said.
Janis and Dennis Hudson visit the island from York every year, this time staying in apartments near Pembroke. They said they were pleased to hear of the new ruling.
‘There is an increase in big dogs – we have been here two weeks and we have seem all different types. I’ve noticed dogs seem to be getting bigger,’ said Mrs Hudson.
They always keep their dog, Dash, on a lead.
‘Where we live we have sheep outside our gate so we are used to it.’
On two different occasions she has felt intimidated by other dogs being walked on the common.
The new ruling is voluntary, but the council hoped it would be adhered to.
Online there has been a strong response to the news, with the Guernsey Press Facebook page story gathering more than 100 posts during the morning.
Many were against the voluntary ban, with one islander saying she had no plans to put her spaniel on a lead as she needed to run free.
‘It’s a safe and large open space for our dogs to enjoy.’
Another said it was only a few bad dog owners that did not know how to manage their pets.
‘Plenty of responsible dog owners though that don’t need punishment with absurd rules.’
But one poster said he could understand why leads might be needed due to some irresponsible dog owners. He wrote that he had been scratched a few times by dogs when running on the common.
‘To have an owner saying their dog is OK, or often saying nothing, but repeatedly shouting stop in vain to the dog running at me does nothing for my confidence that it’s safe to carry on.’
