- By Chris Young
- Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image supply, Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Nearly 100 extra complaints about harmful dogs had been made in Bradford in 2023 than within the earlier yr, figures have proven.
A complete of 322 complaints had been made to the town’s canine management staff final yr, up from 229 in 2022, the council stated.
A choice is due later this week over whether or not to increase an order permitting Bradford Council to positive individuals for not preserving their dogs underneath management.
Dog fouling stories had additionally risen up to now yr, councillors will hear.
Bradford Council’s regulatory and appeals committee meets on Thursday to determine whether or not to increase the canine management order for an additional three years.
It would imply canine homeowners would proceed to be fined if they didn’t hold their animal on a lead in areas like parks, sports activities fields and cemeteries.
Councillors will hear suggestions from a session held earlier this yr, which garnered 113 responses.
One respondent to the session stated: “When biking in Ilkley, on a number of events dogs have come after me, barking”.
As a part of the session, individuals had been requested whether or not the order must be prolonged to the brand new metropolis centre park being developed on Hall Ings.
Danny Jackson, the council’s countryside and rights of method supervisor, stated: “The problems with concern are giant numbers of dogs underneath one person’s management in public areas, which will be intimidating and has resulted in assaults.
“Dogs are let off the lead abruptly and trigger important disturbance to our protected moorland ground-nesting birds in the course of the breeding season.
“We are additionally sceptical concerning the handler’s means (and) inclination to select up the canine mess from such giant numbers of scattered dogs.
“We have witnessed them not bothering or not being conscious on quite a few events.”
The variety of canine fouling stories rose from 371 in 2022 to 417 in 2023, councillors will hear.
A respondent to the session stated: “We frequently use Bradford Bandits BMX monitor and need to continuously choose up canine faeces previous to coaching”.
If the order is prolonged, canine homeowners could be fined for failing to select up canine mess or not having a bag with them to gather it.
Members of the committee will probably be advised that in addition to the rise in stories of harmful dogs, 2023 noticed the numbers of reported strays rise from 441 in 2022 to 678 final yr.
