Dog Control

 

Please see information relating to stray dogs here.

 

Dogs out of control in a public place

This Council does not investigate dog complaints. If a dog is dangerously out of control in a public place, the owner or the person in charge of the dog is guilty of committing an offence. If the dog is out of control and injures a person this may be an aggravated offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. These offences are investigated by the police. 

Please see advice here relating to attacks by dogs and what action you can choose to take:
Dealing with Dangerous Dogs.docx [docx] 60KB
Dogs help sheet.docx [docx] 20KB
Dog on Dog Incident Witness Q1.doc [doc] 58KB

 

 

Prohibited breeds

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits four types of dog:

  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro

For further information, please see the gov.uk site on controlling your dog. 

 

Dog Control Orders

On Wednesday 29 August a Dog Fouling Campaign was launched with funding from Southern Water. The “It only takes a minute, to bag it and bin it…” campaign is aimed at the minority of dog owners in the district who don’t pick up after their pets.

With effect from 20 October 2017, the council Dog Control Orders became Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) under the Anti-social Behaviour Crime & Policing Act 2014.pdf [pdf] 1MB:
A) Failing to remove dog faeces
It will be an offence for any person in charge of a dog, which defecates on any land not to remove the faeces. This provision applies to any land which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment) within the Arun District. This Order exempts the following types of land:
  • Land used for agriculture or for woodlands.
  • Land which is predominantly marshland, moor or heath.
This offence does not apply to a person who is registered as a blind person in a register complied under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948, or to a person who has a disability which affects their mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects, in respect of a dog trained by Dogs for the Disabled (registered charity number 700454, Support Dogs (registered charity number 1088281) or Canine Partners for Independence (registered charity number 803680) and upon which they rely for assistance.
B) Dogs on leads
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times on the designated areas of land set out below. It will be an offence to take a dog into a designated area unless it is kept on a lead. Cemeteries and Church yards within the Arun District and
 
Between 1st May and 30th September, the following promenades:
  • Park Road to Gloucester Road, Bognor Regis
  • Canning Road to 370 yards east of Blakes Road, Felpham
  • Arun Parade to Norfolk Road, Littlehampton

Please see the  Dogs on beaches leaflet.pdf [pdf] 2MB  for more information.

C) Dogs on leads by direction
It will also be an offence if, when asked by an authorised Officer, the person in charge of a dog does not put and keep his or her dog on a lead when on the land to which this order covers. An authorised officer may only give a direction under this Order if such restraint is reasonably necessary to prevent a nuisance or behaviour by the dog likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to any other person, or the worrying or disturbance of any animal or bird, on any land to which this Order applies. This provision applies to any land which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment) within the Arun District. This Order exempts the following types of land:
a)         Land used for agriculture or for woodlands.
b)         Land which is predominantly marshland, moor or heath.
D) Dog exclusion
Dogs are prohibited from the following sites and/or types of land : Children’s play areas, tennis courts, putting greens, pitch and putt courses, adventure golf courses, and crazy golf courses, bowls greens, BMX tracks, skate parks and games courts together with the following sites:
 
 
Between 1st May and 30th September, the following beaches:
  • Park Road (SZ 92799863), to Gloucester Road (SZ 94149900), Bognor Regis
  • Canning Road (SZ 94979930) to Felpham Sailing Club (SZ 95129400), Felpham
  • East Pier to Norfolk Road (TQ 03530135), Littlehampton
It will be an offence for anyone in charge of a dog on land, to which the Dog Exclusion Order applies, to take the dog onto, or permit the dog to enter, or to remain on such land.
 
The offence does not apply to a person who is registered as a blind person in a register compiled under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948, to a deaf person in respect of a dog trained by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (registered charity number 293358), or to a person who has a disability which affects their mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry out otherwise move everyday objects, in respect of a dog trained by Dogs for the Disabled (registered charity number 700454), Support Dogs (registered charity number 1088281) or Canine Partners for Independence (registered charity number 803680) and upon which they rely for assistance.
 

Penalties

Anyone who commits an offence under any of the provisions of the Public Space Protection Orders may be liable, on conviction in the Magistrates Court, to a fine of up to £1,000. The Council may issue £100 Fixed Penalty Notices for such offences, reduced to £75 if paid within 14 days, and anyone who fails to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice may be prosecuted. Full version of public orders.pdf [pdf] 42KB. As of 20 October 2017, the Dog Control Orders changed to a PSPO but penalties remain the same.
 

Resources

Dog Fouling Information Leaflet.pdf [pdf] 946KB
Dog Fouling A5 sign.pdf [pdf] 738KB