The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (NI) 2011 became law in Northern Ireland in April 2012 and introduced a number of new powers for district councils to deal with environmental issues. The Clean Neighbourhoods legislation is broadly divided into six separate areas, part 5 of which refers to the use of Dog Control Orders to deal more effectively with irresponsible dog ownership.
These Orders introduce certain additional controls over dogs in public places and aim to deal more effectively with dog fouling, nuisance dogs and the protection of children and others using our public spaces and facilities.
Dog Control Orders generally apply to public land that is open to the air and can be made by district councils provided the order is a justified and proportionate response to problems caused by the activities of dogs and those in charge of them.
The penalty for committing an offence contained in a dog control order is a maximum fine of level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000). Alternatively, the opportunity of a fixed penalty of £80 may be offered as an alternative measure to prosecution.
Former Antrim Borough Council Dog Control Orders:
Antrim Borough Council has made the following named Dog Control Orders which come into operation on 1st December 2013:
The Dogs on Leads by Direction (Antrim Borough Council) Order 2013
In all public spaces in the Borough, a dog owner may be required to place their dog on a lead of not more than 2 metres in length by an authorised officer of the Council. This will occur where the officer believes that such restraint is reasonably necessary to prevent a nuisance, or where the dog’s behaviour is likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to any other persons or animal.
The Dogs on Leads by Direction (Antrim Borough Council) Order 2013
The Dogs on Leads (Antrim Borough Council) Order 2013
Dogs are required to be walked on a lead of not more than 2 metres in length in certain public parks, tourist & leisure facilities, community centres and cemeteries.
The Dogs on Leads (Antrim Borough Council) Order 2013
The Dogs Exclusion (Antrim Borough Council) Order 2013
Under this order, a person in charge of a dog will be guilty of an offence if they take their dog into, or permit it to enter, any of the play parks, sports pitches, playing fields, tennis courts, bowling greens and golf courses specified in the order.
The Dogs Exclusion (Antrim Borough Council) Order 2013
The Fouling of Land by Dogs (Antrim Borough Council) Order 2013
This order applies to all land which is open to the air (classified as being open to the air on at least one side) and requires anyone in charge of a dog which fouls, to clean it up immediately. The order shall not apply to registered blind or partially sighted persons or someone who has a disability affecting their mobility, manual dexterity or physical co-ordination.
Former Newtownabbey Borough Council Dog Control Orders:
The Dogs on Leads (Newtownabbey Borough Council) Order 2013
The Fouling of Land by Dogs (Newtownabbey Borough Council) Order 2012