This petition is to demand that Leeds City Council re-instate the maximum number of dogs that a professional dog walker (business or company) can walk at any one time back to the original limit of SIX, the council board had decided this limit after a public consultation to which ourselves (The Dog Walker) took part in.

The Dog Walker is a fully insured company with the maximum amount of dogs that can be walked at any one time per person is totaled at SIX, The Dog Walker is also operating in line with NATIONAL guidelines (DEFRA national guidance advises six dogs).

(Stated by Leeds City Council)...”The majority of respondents agree with the proposal to limit the number of dogs one person can walk. Therefore, it is proposed to introduce an Order limiting the number of dogs that can be walked by an individual to 6, in line with national guidance. Officers consider that this will address the main problems caused by multiple dogs walking in Leeds as most issues encountered relate to individuals walking more than 6 dogs. Few problems have been recorded for Individuals walking between 4 and 6 dogs".

On December 15th they changed their mind, (Maximum FOUR), this has a crippling affect on our business with hourly earnings being reduced by 35%!! This during the worst economic times, we simply can’t sustain this barbaric action and we can’t place such an extreme increase in charges to our customers. This will affect all businesses and individuals like us across Leeds but will also affect owners/breeders with more than four dogs.

PLEASE HELP US AND YOURSELVES! Stop these faceless bureaucrats who have no idea on how such an industry operates, we know a limit should be reached, but four is simply not enough or commercially viable, SIX is recognised as a maximum both nationally and with insurance companies, responsible dog walkers work on these guidelines.