What is this survey all about?

Doncaster Council intends to renew an existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

This will see the current PSPO relating to dog fouling and dog control extended for a further three years when it runs out in February 2020.

The existing PSPO has helped to reduce the number of dog related complaints and renewing the order would enable this work to continue.

To renew the order we need to consult with residents about the plans.

This consultation runs until midnight on Sunday 2nd February 2020.

The consultation covers five key areas:

• Failure to clear up your dog’s mess.
• The keeping of dogs on leads in specified areas. 
• Leads by order – this covers the need for people to put and keep a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer.
• Exclusion of dogs from certain areas - this includes enclosed children’s play areas.
• Carrying suitable means to remove dog fouling.

Any breach of the order could result in the issue of a fixed penalty fine of £100. If this remains unpaid then the matter will be referred to the Magistrates’ Court where a fine of up to £1000 could be imposed plus the costs for bringing the action.
Please take a couple of minutes to complete this short survey.
 
Thank you for your contribution.

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* 1. Dog fouling

A person in charge of a dog must remove the faeces from any public open land across Doncaster forthwith.

Do you agree with this?

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* 2. Dog on leads by order

A person in charge of a dog must put the dog on a lead when requested to do so by an authorised officer.

This doesn’t mean you must have your dog on a lead at all times. It is simply a requirement that should an authorised officer ask you to place a dog in your control on a lead, you would be in breach of the order if you refused.

You would only be asked to do this if a dog was causing a nuisance/harassment or was a danger to another animal or person.

Do you agree with this?

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* 3. Dog on leads

A person in charge of a dog on the land below must keep the dog on a lead in the following areas:

1. All cemeteries and churchyards, including green burial areas.
2. All footpaths around lakes and ponds.
3. All sports grounds, fields, parks, and pitches, but only when in use for officiated sporting matches.

Do you agree with this?

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* 4. Exclusion

A person in charge of a dog must not take it into or keep it within a fenced/enclosed children’s play area.

Do you agree with this?

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* 5. Means to pick up

A person in charge of a dog must have and produce on request the appropriate means to pick up dog faeces deposited by that dog.

Do you agree with this?

In order to ensure that all groups with protected characteristics are represented in this consultation, it would help us greatly if you could complete the following equalities information.

Question Title

* 6. Area of residence (e.g. Balby, Tickhill, Askern).

Please let us know which community you live in:

Please click on the DONE button at the bottom of this form to submit your responses.

Thank you for your time, your views will now be considered.
Other information about the proposed order

Nothing in the proposed order shall apply to a person who:

(a) is registered as a blind person in a register compiled under section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948; or
(b) a person with a disability affecting their mobility, manual dexterity or ability to lift, carry or move everyday objects and who relies upon a dog trained by a prescribed charity for assistance.
(c) has reasonable excuse for failing to do so.
(d) if the owner, occupier of the land has consented (generally or specifically) to them failing to do so.

Other Information

• A person who habitually has a dog in his possession shall be taken to be in charge of the dog at any time unless at that time some other person is in charge of the dog.
• Placing the faeces in a receptacle on the land which is provided for the purpose, or for the disposal of waste, shall be sufficient removal from the land.
• Being unaware of the defecation (whether by reason of not being in the vicinity or otherwise), or not having a device for or other suitable means of removing the faeces shall not be a reasonable excuse for failing to remove the faeces.
• “an authorised officer of the Authority” means an employee, partnership agency or contractor of Doncaster Council who is authorised in writing by Doncaster Council for the purposes of giving directions under the Order.

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