Dog Control PSPO 2026 consultation

Extending the PSPO will allow the council to continue to address nuisances related to dogs off leads, dog fouling, and keeping dogs out of play areas. The proposed PSPO would be the only power the council has over dog control and dog fouling in the city.

The existing Dog Control PSPO

A PSPO gives a local authority powers to tackle a particular nuisance in an area, where it is having a negative effect on people’s quality of life.

Breaking the conditions set out in a PSPO is a criminal offence and can lead to a fixed penalty notice or prosecution. PSPOs are made by the local authority and generally remain in place for up to three years but can be reviewed, extended or allowed to lapse.

For the past 16 years, the city has had a Dog Control PSPO in place, which has been subject to regular reviews.

The existing Dog Control PSPO started on 6 December 2023, for a period of three years, and is due to expire on 5 December 2026. It sets out the following rules for dog control in open public land across the whole of Bristol:

• dogs must be kept on leads at all times when on any land with public access, except for the land listed in the Schedule. View the existing Schedule
• dog fouling must be cleaned up by the person in charge of the dog
• dogs are excluded from children’s play areas

Full details of the current rules, including exemptions, are set out in the existing City of Bristol (Dog Control) Public Space Protection Order 2020.

Proposal to re-establish the city-wide PSPO relating to dog control

We recognise that the vast majority of dog owners continue to act responsibly. Being able to walk a dog and to enjoy areas of open space is important to owners and to the welfare of their animals.

We do, however, continue to receive complaints about dog-related behaviour.

Since 2023, we have received over 920 reports of stray dogs and 1,159 reports of dog fouling across the city. We are therefore proposing to renew the  pdf City of Bristol (Dog Control) PSPO 2023(683 KB) to allow us to continue to address issues of dog control, including dog fouling. The proposed PSPO would be in place until December 2029.

The pdf proposed Dog Control PSPO 2026(107 KB)  covers the entire city of Bristol.

Please note that the council is not proposing to make any changes to the content of the existing PSPO.

The existing and proposed PSPO relating to dog control deal with three key aspects of potential nuisance associated with dog ownership:

Part 1: Dogs on leads

The majority of dog owners act responsibly and keep their animals under good control. However, for some, if not properly supervised and kept under control or if allowed off their lead in a public place, there's potential for causing alarm and distress to people, involvement in road traffic accidents, or attacks on persons or other animals.

The proposed order does not prohibit owners from letting their dogs off leads in the land listed in the proposed schedule. It does however provide officers with the power to request a dog be put on a lead if, for example, a dog is dangerously out of control in a public place.

Part 2: Dog fouling

Again, the majority of dog owners act responsibly and clear up after their dog.

A minority do not pick up after their dog or do not dispose of it properly. Not only is this unsightly it also represents a health hazard, for example from Toxocariasis.

The PSPO provides for sanctions creating criminal offences if the mess is either not picked up or disposed of properly.

Part 3: Dog exclusions

Outdoor exercise and play for dogs is important, not only for their health but also wellbeing.

The PSPO provides for dogs to use most parts of our public spaces, such as parks, with a few exceptions. The proposed PSPO excludes dogs from children's play areas that are surrounded on all sides by fences, gates, walls or other structures that mark the extent of the play area.

These three control measures replicate the controls in the existing Dog PSPO.

Exceptions

There are a number of important exceptions to the proposed PSPO in relation to working and assistance dogs.

The dog fouling provisions in the PSPO do not apply to people who are partially sighted, sight impaired or those who have a disability.

The dog exclusion provisions in the PSPO do not apply to a dog trained by a registered charity to assist a person with a disability and upon which a disabled person relies for assistance.

Nothing in the PSPO shall apply to the normal activities of a working dog, whilst the dog is working.

Why we think the PSPO should be renewed

During the 2023-2026 period, that the existing Dog Control PSPO has been in place, the council continued to receive complaints from across Bristol about dogs not being on leads, dog fouling and dogs within children’s play areas.

The current PSPO has been shown to be effective in dealing with dog-related nuisance in the city by providing authorities with powers to fine or prosecute dog owners who do not follow the rules set out in the PSPO.

Bristol City Council therefore proposes to re-establish the existing PSPO until 2029, to enable the continued enforcement of the above rules around dog control.