ATTACKS on delivery workers, mess in parks and irresponsible owners were all discussed at Cardiff’s first conference on dog ownership this week.
The event called Caring4k9s, heard that the rise in online shopping is partly to blame for the rise of dog attacks on delivery staff and how providing free poo bags in parks could encourage more people to clean up after their pets.
Politicians, animal experts and dog owners were at the City Hall event to hear evidence and suggestions geared towards making owners more responsible.
Dave Joyce, National Health and Safety Officer for the Communications Workers Union (CWU) spoke on the danger of dogs to postal workers – particularly over Xmas and the school holidays – and the urgent need to toughen up dog control in Wales.
“One in seven of Wales, 4,730 postal workers have been bitten and injured,” he said.
“Some of the postal workers never fully recover physically and mentally from dog attack trauma and are not able to continue working due to their disabilities and disfigurement.”
The 200,000 strong CWU has launched its Bite-Back Campaign calling on the Welsh Assembly to:
- Re-introduce Dog Licensing
- Introduce Dog Control Notices (DCN’s)
- Introduce on the spot Fixed Penalty Notices to deal with minor offences and breaches
- Enforce the Dog Tag Law, 1992 which requires all dogs to wear a tag when in public with the owners details
- Utilise Public Space Protection Orders to ban dogs from specific areas such as children’s play parks and other public areas
Currently 77% of councils have never issued a Community Protection Notice (CPN) – which Mr Joyce called a ‘disaster’.
Labour Councillor for Llandaff North Dilwar Ali organised the conference and will be writing a report for the council and the Welsh Government.
What does the Welsh Government say?
The meeting heard from Lesley Griffiths AM – Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs who said that she was aware of inconsistencies with enforcement and that there is a lot more they can do.
What does the Council say?
What do dog owners think?
“Dog fouling is a big issue, there is a lot of responsible people but it doesn’t take much before there is mess everywhere. I think their needs to be more bins around the place.
“They shouldn’t ban dogs from places just tell people to clean up after themselves and their dogs.”