Memorandum submitted by the Pet Advisory
Committee (DMB 57)
INTRODUCTION
The (PAC) was established in 1974 as the Joint
Advisory Committee on Pets in Society (JACOPIS), the title the
committee held until 1992. PAC consists of a number of major animal
welfare charities, veterinary organisations, and trade associations.
Its remit is to examine the role of companion animals in society,
and to make recommendations to central and local government as
to how pets can best fit into the environment, in the interests
of the animal, its owner and the wider community.
The PAC welcomes the introduction of the Draft
Marine Bill, Part 9 of which contains provisions on coastal access.
The PAC is hopeful that pet owners, and more specifically dog
owners, will benefit from increased access to coastal land to
exercise their pets, and their needs will be considered alongside
those of other land users.
As the majority of pet owners who benefit from
coastal access are those in possession of a dog, the PAC's response
to the EFRA committee consultation will focus on dogs and their
owners as part of the wider companion animal society.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Why Coastal Access to Land for Dog Owners is Important
— Government statistics from the Forestry
Commission and Natural England show that between 33%—50%
of all walkers have dogs with them.
— With 7.3 million dogs in the UK,
dog owners represent a large cross section of not only the pet
owning society, but society as a whole.
— Dog owners not only enjoy walking
their dogs, they have a legal responsibility under the Animal
Welfare Act to provide their dogs with adequate exercise.
— Walking a dog brings about benefits
to the health of the dog and the health of the dog walker.
How the Marine Bill Can Improve Dog Owners Access
to Land
— By imposing restrictions that are
sensible, reasonable, and proportionate.
— By providing clear, consistent and
credible information to dog owners.
— By working with dog owners and dog
owner groups to communicate messages.
THE NEED
FOR ACCESS
TO COASTAL
LAND FOR
DOG OWNERS
1. Learning from past experiences
1.1 Past legislation on land access has
proven overly restrictive, and as a result has led to confusion
and in some cases, non compliance. In addition the voluntary,
individual, agreement-based approach has been an option for many
decades and, as with access to open country, has been shown to
not substantially deliver or protect the additional responsible
access desired by Government. For these reasons, we believe new
legislation is the best means of providing increased responsible
land access.
2. Dog owners have legal responsibilities
2.1 Animal Welfare Act—Under the Animal
Welfare Act, dog owners have a duty of care for their dogs, not
only to ensure their dogs are the correct weight, but also to
allow them to exhibit natural behaviour patterns; this means providing
dogs with adequate exercise. Coastal land access will afford dog
owners increased public exercise facilities.
2.2 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment
Act—This Act allows for local authorities to introduce dog
control orders providing they are "reasonable and proportionate"
(Defra guidelines). Unfortunately, recent dog control orders have
in some areas curtailed the freedom of responsible dog owners
to exercise their dogs properly in their locality.
2.3 Countryside & Rights of Way Act
(CROW)—Under CROW dogs must be kept on leads at certain
times of the year in order to protect ground nesting birds for
example. This means that the coast is a vital environment for
walkers with dogs, as it gives alternative areas for exercise
at sensitive times for ground-nesting birds and lambing further
inland.
HOW THE
MARINE BILL
CAN IMPROVE
DOG OWNERS
ACCESS TO
LAND
3. Impose restrictions that are sensible,
balanced and reasonable
3.1 Balanced and proportionate restrictions
can legitimately be imposed on walkers with dogs at sensitive
times and places. For whatever classes of land excluded from access
rights, an integrated approach to restrictions, clearly identifying
where restrictions start and finish, and providing information
on alternative routes,[23]
will help with compliance. PAC agrees with the overall picture
presented by Natural England, in particular, the observation that
"some sections of coast are rich in, but others poor in,
wildlife interest." This is helpful recognition that blanket,
nationally-based "on-lead" or "no dogs" restrictions
(as included in part 1 of the CROW Act) cannot legitimately be
a part of legislation, regulations or guidance for access to the
coast, for walkers with dogs. Thus, whilst we accept the need
for restrictions on walkers with dogs (at certain times and places)
to help ensure compliance and support, such restrictions need
to be credible and proportionate. They should adopt the "least
restrictive approach" and be determined on a local, case
by case basis, from an impartial, balanced examination of the
facts and the consideration of a variety of management options.
4. Provide clear information to dog owners
4.1 There is a significant lack of clear,
consistent and credible information provided to walkers with dogs
by access managers, about how to responsibly enjoy the coast and
countryside. This needs to be addressed through a multi-agency
approach, to help the vast majority of dog owners who seek to
be responsible and avoid conflict, if the appropriate information,
facilities and support are given.
4.2 Advice will also be helpful for land
and access managers, as well as other access users, to assist
them to behave responsibly and respectfully towards walkers with
dogs.
5. Working with dog owners
5.1 As walkers with dogs are one of the
most frequent, year-round users of all types of public access,
it is vitally important that consultation takes place with them.
CONCLUSION
The Pet Advisory Committee welcomes the introduction
of the Draft Marine Bill, Part 9 of which contains provisions
on coastal access. We believe that coastal access for dogs and
their owners is important, especially given the large number of
people who are legally obligated to walk dogs and the health benefits
that dog ownership brings about. We believe new legislation on
this matter is required to ensure that dog owners can benefit
from improved coastal access to the same extent as other land
users.
ABOUT THE
PAC
The President of PAC is Lord Soulsby of Swaffham
Prior. The Vice-Presidents are Roger Gale MP, Tim Loughton MP,
Ian Cawsey MP, Andrew Stunell MP, Dr Nick Palmer MP, Robert Evans
MEP, Caroline Jackson MEP and Caroline Lucas MEP.
The PAC is chaired by Andrew Stunell MP and
the membership of the Committee is as follows:
British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
British Veterinary Association.
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Local Government Association.
National Office of Animal Health.
Pet Food Manufacturers Association.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals.
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals.
Please note that the RSPCA has not put its name
to this statement.
Pet Advisory Committee.
May 2008
23 Coastal access provision is important from a welfare
perspective, eg providing cooler areas for exercise at times of
higher inland temperatures. Welfare implications should be considered
when planning alternative routes. Back
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