Rother Council are proposing a new Dog Control Order. This will restrict off lead dog walking to certain areas. They are proposing that dogs in other areas should be on a short (one metre) lead not even allowing dogs to be controlled on a flexi extending lead or long line. They are prohibiting dogs completely from other areas where dogs could be taken on lead. They also want to restrict the number of dogs walked to 3 per person. This proposal will seriously affect dog walkers who live in this area and also those that regularly come to walk and enjoy the amenities and countryside presently available. There are beaches there including Camber Sands which attract dog walkers in the winter when no one else is using them. Other councils are bringing in this type of proposal but rather than keeping dogs on lead are proposing that people in authority can ask for dogs to be put on lead if necessary. Other councils are saying 6 dogs per person rather that the 3 suggested by Rother. The number of dogs walked by a person is not the problem it is the level of control that the person has over the dogs. Everyone agrees that dogs should be on lead next to roads and on pavements but this is not even mentioned by Rother. We also agree that people should clear up after their dog anywhere that it might cause a nuisance to other people. We feel that this proposal penalises the responsible dog owner who makes sure that their dogs do not cause a nuisance. These are the people who will obey the order while the irresponsible ones who cause any dog related problems will not as the order will be impossible to enforce. Dogs need regular off lead exercise otherwise there will be even more problems with frustrated, unsocialised dogs. The majority of the recent serious incidents involving dogs have happened in the home with family dogs. This petition has been sent to Rother Council as their consultation closed on 23rd February 2007. They are now saying that this is only the first consultation and that they will revise this order once they have processed all the feedback. They will then consult again in November. We hope that the revised order will not need another petition against it. Thank you to everyone who has signed this petition.

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