| 2015-12-18 |    |
Plea to Follow Dog Walking Code this Christmas
The CLA, which represents thousands of landowners, farmers and rural businesses throughout the North, is appealing for dog owners to keep close control of their dogs while out and about over the holiday period.
Defra recently reported that walking with a dog accounted for 1.51 billion visits to the English countryside in 2014–2015, half of the total amount made by the public.
You can read the dog walking code here
As 2015 draws to a close, the CLA is urging dog walkers to follow the Dog Walking Code to ensure that incidents of damage and on-farm accidents involving dogs are kept to a minimum as people use their free time over the holiday to enjoy walks with their pets.
CLA
North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said:
“Country walks are a festive
tradition but can cause irreparable harm through thoughtless behaviour.
Getting out and enjoying the countryside over Christmas is a good
thing, but it is vital that dog
owners understand their responsibilities when walking their dogs
on farms.
“That means knowing where it is permitted to walk, keeping dogs under close control at all times - and on leads around livestock - and cleaning up after them.
“Sheep and livestock worrying by dogs can have a disastrous effect for farmers. Dogs disturbing or chasing wildlife can also both harm the animals and jeopardise conservation schemes which help to protect vulnerable plants and wildlife. Any damage caused can have a big impact on farmers and landowners.”
The Dog Walking Code is an initiative published by countryside stakeholder groups including Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Kennel Club, and the CLA.
