Dogsey

NEARLY 200 Dog Control Orders are going ‘live’ this weekend across Sunderland.

The 184 orders have been introduced by the City Council. This is after it considered how to tackle dog fouling.

Each of the council’s five Area Committees had looked at the problem and decided banning dogs from certain areas was the only solution.

Councillor Michael Mordey, the council’s Portfolio Holder for City Services, is a Hendon ward councillor, and sits on the East Committee.

He said: “Questions about dogs are one of the main reasons that residents contact the council or their ward councillors.

“The council has worked closely with residents groups and associations, and the friends of many of our parks and open spaces.

“We consulted on the measures and many people and groups were in favour of them, and now we’re introducing them.”

Coun Mordey has been helping staff put up Dog Control Area signs in Mowbray Park.

A consultation on the orders was held through May this year, and these have now been put in place under powers granted to councils under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.

These powers allow councils to exercise greater control over dog handlers with the provision of Dog Control Orders relating to:

•A limitation on where dogs are permitted;
•A restriction on where dogs may be permitted off lead;
•Designated areas where dogs must be placed on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised Officer of the Council;
•The identification of land where fouling must be removed and deposited lawfully;
•A restriction on the number of dogs per person in designated locations.