1 | | Professional dog walkers are to | | | | Times that complaints about packs |
| | be brought to heel in one of the | | | | of dogs had been increasing |
| | country’s most popular open | | | | steadily over the past two years. |
| | spaces. The managers of | | | | “When people bring in excess of |
| | Hampstead Heath in North London | | | | eight or ten dogs − and some |
| | are considering restricting the | | | | people bring significantly higher |
| | number of dogs that can be | | | | numbers than that − it is putting |
| | exercised on a single occasion at | | | | some people off enjoying this open |
| | the heath, where up to 20 dogs at a | | | | space. The dog walkers may have |
| | time are sometimes walked together | | | | good control but when dogs start |
| | and let off their leashes. Other users | | | | acting in a pack manner, their |
| | of the heath have complained that | | | | playful behaviour can be |
| | they are unable to enjoy themselves | | | | intimidating.” The number of |
| | because they find the packs of dogs | | | | professional dog walkers has surged |
| | intimidating. | | | | in recent years because they offer a |
2 | | The City of London Corporation, | | | | convenient service to owners who |
| | which controls 10,000 acres of open | | | | are unable to exercise their pets |
| | space in the capital and its | | | | regularly. Hampstead Heath, near |
| | surrounding counties, says dogs are | | | | some wealthy neighbourhoods, is |
| | fighting each other and loads of | | | | one of the capital’s most popular |
| | animals are being dropped off for | | | | walking spots. |
| | exercise. It is considering a | | 5 | | Heather Pope, who has |
| | restriction on the activities of | | | | been a professional dog walker on |
| | professional dog walkers, across all | | | | the heath since 2005, said that a |
| | of its open spaces, to alleviate the | | | | licensing system was a ‘knee-jerk |
3 | | Under the proposal there would | | | | reaction’. She said that most of the |
| | be a limit − likely to be six − to the | | | | dog walkers on the heath were |
| | number of dogs that commercial | | | | professionally trained and made |
| | operators could walk at any time. All | | | | sure that the animals in their group |
| | professional walkers would have to | | | | were well-suited and under control. |
| | gain a licence by undergoing | | | | “If someone doesn’t like dogs they |
| | assessment to prove that they could | | | | will complain even if you are |
| | control their dogs. The corporation | | | | walking an anorexic Chihuahua. |
| | said that a professional licence, to | | | | People just won’t live and let live.” |
| | be considered in the autumn, would | | | | Ms Pope questioned the fairness of |
| | restore peace on the heath, where | | | | an assessment regime and was |
| | there has been increasing tension | | | | sceptical that the City of London |
| | | | | | would be able to police such a |
| | | | | system. |
| | | 6 | | The Kennel Club expressed |
| | | | | concern that an ‘anti-dog’ climate |
| | | | | was developing around Britain. A |
| | | | | spokeswoman said that councils |
| | | | | had been given powers to control |
| | | | | dogs in 2005 and were becoming |
| | | | | increasingly strict. “The problem |
| | | | | with restrictions is that every dog is |
| | | | | different. To say that walking six |
| | between dog owners and other | | | | Chihuahuas and walking six |
| | users. The suggestion has angered | | | | Dobermans is the same thing is |
| | professional walkers, who claim that | | | | really quite ludicrous. There are |
| | they are being unfairly blamed for | | | | factors such as control that the |
| | trouble caused by individual dogs | | | | walkers have and their relationship |
| | whose private owners are not | | | | with the dogs, and these are |
| | properly controlling them. | | | | different in every circumstance.” |
4 | | Simon Lee, the superintendent | | | | |
| | of Hampstead Heath, told The | | | | The Times, 2009 |