Canine groups urge protests to fight dog ban in Bognor

The Kennel Club says the restrictions intended to be put in place by Arun District Council are unfair.

It has urged all dog owners to use the last week of the council's consultation, which ends on April 9, into its proposals to protest against them.

Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club's communications director, said: "It's a real shame that the council feels it necessary to increase the number of dog exclusion areas and dogs on lead areas rather than work with the local dog-owning community to tackle any issues.

"This will only serve to alienate dog owners who account for about a quarter of the population.

"Basic animal welfare includes properly exercising your dog.

"Reducing the areas in which people can walk their dogs and run them off lead could result in them not being properly exercised and is, therefore, not a realistic solution.

"We would strongly urge all dog owners in the local area to respond to the public consultation and make their views known about this issue."

As reported, the district council wants to change its bylaws which relate to the control of dogs and make it an offence to break the rules.

KC Dog, which is the Kennel Club's scheme to help dog owners protect their rights, has highlighted five main concerns about the proposals.

These are:

* dog fouling '“ covering all public land.

* dogs on lead by direction '“ covering all public land.

* number of dogs '“ to restrict the number of dogs being walked by one person to four, covering all public land;

* dogs on leads '“ extended from existing areas to Felpham beach huts, Hotham Park and The Spinney, North Bersted; and

* dog exclusion '“ extended from existing areas to Steyne Gardens and parts of Hotham Park.

An Arun spokesman said about 100 responses had already been received. Most were against the proposals, though no exact figures would be given until an analysis had been made of the comments.

They included strong arguments for and against the intended new bylaws, he added.

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