Dog walkers could be slapped with a hefty fine this holiday season if they’re not aware of strict rules which can cost pet owners if not followed.
While taking your dog off its lead is permitted in most UK parks and wooded areas, it is in fact illegal in some spots.
In lieu of signs alerting you to restrictions, it is likely fine to let your four-legged friends roam free.
However, dogs typically need to be on a lead near roads, footpaths, carparks, play areas and certain ponds or streams at some times of the year.
Areas like flower beds, beaches and pitches are usually considered off-limits.
And dog owners should keep a keen eye out for signs alerting them to the rules, in case of any other restrictions.
Local authorities also have the power to issue a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), or Dog Control Order, excluding dogs from certain areas or instructing owners to put them on a lead.
These orders also set out rules regarding the maximum number of dogs one person can walk at one time, and rules about dog fouling.
The order comes with a maximum fine of £1,000 – which can be issued as a fixed penalty notice in place of a prosecution.
Other things you could be fined for under this order include failing to remove dog faeces, not putting and keeping your dog on a lead when asked to do so, permitting a dog to enter land they’re not allowed on, and taking more than a specified number of dogs onto a land.
Other lesser-known rules include ensuring your dog is microchipped and wearing a collar and tag in public.
Dog owners can face an unlimited fine if their pet is not wearing an identity disc while they’re in public, with those failing to follow these rules facing the possibility of being served with a 21-day legal notice.
Failure to comply following such a legal notice could see owners fined up to £500 per dog.
