[TribalRats]

By Emily Walker
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DOG owners worried about the health of their pets have said they are against proposals to force them to stay on leads.

Last week, Swindon councillor David Glaholm called for all dogs to be kept on leashes to prevent attacks on children.

Coun Glaholm (Lab, Penhill) proposed dogs should only be allowed to run free in fenced-off parts of the town's parks.
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In an Adver poll, 58 per cent of readers did not want dogs to be restricted to leads in the town's public places and 42 per cent said the ban should be introduced. Almost 1,000 voted.

Dog-lovers walking their four-legged friends in Lawn yesterday said they would not want to see a ban.

Beryl and Victor Tucker have had Welsh spaniel Benji for 12 years.

Mrs Tucker said: "I have never seen any aggressive dogs around here and 95 per cent of owners are completely responsible.

"Even when there have been children around there has never been an incident.

"Dogs need to run around to keep healthy."

Labrador owner Raymond Ash, from Gorse Hill said: "Obviously the people who have come up with this don't have dogs or have had a bad experience with them.

"Maybe they should be the ones on a lead.

"If your keep dogs tied up all the time then they will just get more frustrated."

Chris George, 23, of Old Town, who owns Staffordshire bull terrier, Magni, said fear of the species was unjustified.

"He is completely harmless, even with my baby nephew.

"If an owner has proper control of their dog, then there is no reason why they shouldn't behave.

"I don't think they should introduce a blanket ban. It is unfair to punish innocent dogs."

Coun Glaholm said he had received several letters about the issue.

He said: "My concern is that if we allow dogs to run around off leads, and if a dog then bites a child, are the parents then likely to sue the council?

"You see people let their dogs run around in parks, but sometimes they don't respond to their master's voice when called back.

"People think that is funny, but it is not if the dog then attacks a child. My wife is petrified of dogs and when you see how somebody can react when a dog comes close to them it really show you the effect they can have."

The UK's governing body for dogs, the Kennel Club, even wrote to Coun Glaholm, and said the ban would harm the animals.

The letter said: "Introducing an order for dog owners to keep dogs on leads in parks could have serious implications for animal welfare, human health and the environment.

"This is because many dogs require vigorous exercise and their health, weight and behaviour could be compromised if they are not able to exercise off lead.

"This would be contrary to the principles of the Animal Welfare Act.

"It would be more reasonable of the council to exclude dogs from designated children's play areas rather than order owners to keep them on leads in large areas of parks that should be open to everyone."

The matter will be discussed at council meeting on Thursday.

Coun Glaholm said it may not be discussed until the cost of putting up fences in parks to segregate for dog-walkers had been investigated further. He added that he hoped it would be sent to the council's cabinet, so members of the public would have a chance to comment.