Dog owners make their point, but confusion over the law

They were challenging the implementation, due to start today, of what the Vale Commons Council said was a voluntary scheme aimed at getting people to keep their dogs on leads while on the common following complaints of poor behaviour by animals.

However, the Control of Dogs Ordinance from 1992 already states that dogs on 'playing fields' on the common should be on a lead and under close supervision at all times. The States has previously published further guidance which says this concerns pitches marked with white lines.

The council has not responded to numerous requests by the Guernsey Press for comment.

Protest organiser Lorraine Lane said they had been told by somebody from the golf club that it was enshrined in law that dogs could be unleashed on the common, providing they were kept under control, and they believed the law would have to be repealed before that could change.

‘We want to retain the freedom for dogs to be able to run on the common off the lead,’ she said.

‘I saw what the Vale Commons Council wanted to do and then the following morning while on the common with the dogs I was approached by a man who handed me a prepared leaflet. It wasn’t supposed to come in to effect until 1 August so they knew exactly what they wanted to do.’

Mrs Lane said she had three dogs and nine puppies. She would keep one of the dogs on a lead as it was still in training, while she let the other two off the leash.

‘The two dogs work the bushes,’ she said. ‘I always know where they are and when they go to the toilet and I pick up after them straight away.’

Barry Weir, who has a Great Dane, said he challenged the law and the council.

‘L’Ancresse Common was given to the people of Guernsey by the monarch to do what they want on, and only the monarch can change that,’ he said.

Professional dog walker Emma-Jayne Sarahs said she would walk five to six dogs on the common at a time.

‘We get lots of abuse from people when they are off the lead even though they are fully under control,’ she said.

‘Some people with nervous dogs will walk them right through the middle of our pack and then complain when our dogs interact with them.

‘I wouldn’t let a dog off the lead that was a liability and did not have good recall and we’re fully insured.’

In its statement announcing the change two weeks ago, the council said it had been receiving increased reports of uncontrolled dogs on the common.