What is the P.S.P.O Rulings?
PSPOs (Public Spaces Protection Orders) relating to dog walkers are local council rules made under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. They can restrict how dogs are walked in public areas where the council believes dog-related behaviour is harming the quality of life of local people.
For dog walkers, PSPO rulings commonly include:
Dogs on leads – a council can require dogs to be kept on a lead in specified areas (for example, certain parks, town centres, cemeteries or sports grounds).
Dogs on leads when instructed – authorised officers can require a dog to be put on a lead if the PSPO allows it.
Dog fouling rules – owners/walkers must pick up dog waste and may be required to carry bags or a scoop.
Dog exclusion zones – dogs may be banned from certain areas such as children’s play areas or sports facilities.
Limits on numbers of dogs – councils can restrict how many dogs one person may walk at once. This can particularly affect professional dog walkers.
Professional dog walker conditions – some councils introduce extra requirements, such as permits, insurance or limits on group sizes (depending on the local PSPO).
Penalties:
Breaching a PSPO can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (often £100) or, if prosecuted, a fine of up to £1,000.
How does this effect you?
A lot, actually! With the rise in dog incidents exploding to an 83% increase since 2020. Many of these wonderful animals in the data have been incidents that could’ve been avoided with the right amount of awareness! Which is where we come in.
We are closely working with members of the public and the council to adhere to these P.S.P.O Rulings alongside our business and presenting B.P.T.S!
B.P.T.S stands for;
B - Bespoke
P - Paws
T - Temperament
S - System
