Controlling Your Dog in Public

It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as:

• in a public place
• in a private place, for example a neighbour's house or garden
• in the owner’s home

The law applies to all dogs.

You can click on the links below to report a dangerous or out of control dog to:

• the dog warden service run by Shropshire Council
• West Mercia Police

Out of control

Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:

• injures someone
• makes someone worried that it might injure them

A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply:

• it attacks someone’s animal
• the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal

Penalties

You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months (or both) if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.

If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to 5 years or fined (or both). If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with ‘malicious wounding’.

If you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine (or both).

If you allow your dog to injure an assistance dog (for example a guide dog) you can be sent to prison for up to 3 years or fined (or both).

Further information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/control-dogs

Information about new dog constraints Public Spaces Protection Order - Shropshire Council Newsroom

The Countryside Code

When you're out and about with your dog, it's important that you're aware of the Countryside Code. Being aware of this code can help to keep your dog safe, protect the environment and show that you are a responsible dog owner.

The England and Wales Countryside Code states that:

• You control your dog so that it doesn't scare or disturb farm animals or wildlife.
• When using the new access rights over open country and common land, you must keep your dog on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July - and all year round near farm animals. You may not be able to take your dog at all in some areas or at some times. Please follow any official signs.
• In general you don't have to put your dog on a lead on public paths, as long as they are under close control. Though please be aware of any local laws that may be in place.
• As a general rule, keep your dog on a lead if you cannot rely on their obedience. By law, farmers are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.
• If a farm animal chases you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead - don't risk getting hurt by trying to protect them. Please click on links to read guides on keeping safe around horses and livestock.
• Take particular care that your dog doesn't scare sheep and lambs, or wander where it might disturb birds that nest on the ground and other wildlife.
• Across the UK, 7 in 10 livestock attacks are caused by unaccompanied dogs, e.g. dogs that have escaped your garden. Make sure your garden is escape-proof.

You can read more about these rules, or if you have a particular query, please call The Open Access Contact Centre on 0845 100 3298.

Dog Poo

Bag it and bin it in any public waste bin or take it home.

Always clean up your dog’s poo because it can cause illness in people, livestock and wildlife.

Never leave bags of dog poo around, even if you intend to pick them up later. If you cannot find a public waste bin, you should take it home and use your own bin.