Owners say new 'Asbos for dogs' will drive them out of their homes

Dog owners have hit back at 'ridiculous' plans to introduce 'dog Asbos' in a London borough and said they will be flouting any restrictions and leaving the area if they're ever enforced.

Owners in Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets, East London said today they are furious after Tower Hamlets council's proposal that dogs be excluded from 'all gated play parks and sports areas'.

The authority has also suggested dogs be kept on leads in 'all public spaces' except specific, yet-to-be defined areas.

Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman, who has made headlines in the past for his spats with the Labour party, is overseeing the enforcement of the government's 'Asbos for dogs' policy.

Known officially as the Public Spaces Protection Orders, the regulations have already been implemented across the country. However, Tower Hamlets is an oddity by failing to specify which areas dogs are allowed to roam leadless.

Martin Ingram, 56, who walks his two huskies Mishka and Mika in the park daily, says he doesn't see a reason for the ban as the park is safe.

He said: 'It is ridiculous. This is a nation of dog lovers, and they are trying to ban dogs. I know people who are moving out of the area because of this.'

'Look at the statistics for dog attacks in the borough. You don't ever see it around here.

'If there was a statistic to say that there were loads of dog attacks in this area then I would back the ban, but there just isn't.'

David Wilson, 57, uses Borrow My Doggy to help walk local dogs and get exercise after an ankle injury.

Today he was walking a Yorkiepoo named Beezer.

The retired nurse says being able to throw the ball for dogs off the lead not only makes the pets happy, but has greatly improved his own mental health.

He said: 'If you look around you can see how much joy running free gives these dogs. How could you put a stop to that?

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Pet lovers go to war over 'Asbos for dogs' set to ban them from going off the lead in parks

'This time of day nobody uses the park other than dog walkers and runners - so it is not as if they are crashing picnics or anything.

'People with big dogs need a big place to exercise them. I have been walking dogs here for ten years. After my ankle surgery this has been my physio. It gets me out.

'Since I retired this is also my source of socialising so coming here is really good for my mental health. I would really miss it. I feel very safe here. All the dog walkers are very upset about this.'

Professional dog walkers Maisie Kennedy and Kiera Burke also hit back at the plans, saying that dogs need to be off lead to get exercise.

Maisie said: 'For the dogs they won't be able to burn off their energy so you are going to get much worse behaved dogs - because they will be bored.

'Dogs need to run and have fun.

'Attacks are caused by the owner not the dog. If your dog isn't trained then it should be on the lead. That is the problem, it is not dogs having fun.

'If an owner has got recall then there won't be any problems.'

Kiera added: 'We often talk about how there should be a licence to own a dog. So many people buy them without caring to put the effort in to train them.

'If that was in place then there wouldn't be any issues.

'The dogs are all angels.'

Margaret Lipscombe, 67, walks her chihuahua Jack Russel cross Astro in the park every day, and says this new ban is discriminatory against older walkers.

She said: 'It is ridiculous. I come here every day and I won't be abiding by the ban. He loves to run it is not fair to keep him on the lead.

'Lots of old people come here with their dogs and they really rely on being able to let the dogs off the lead. They can't walk that far. It is discriminatory.

'I have signed five petitions.

'There are certain dogs that shouldn't be out there but putting all dogs on leads won't stop them. Owners of vicious dogs wouldn't abide by this anyway.'

Tomara Mittelstadt, 56, says she is also hoping for the ban to be stopped, as her gun dog needs to run around.

She added: 'It is awful. My dogs have grown up in this park they don't know any different.

'She wouldn't be able to cope being on the lead. On a lead they won't get this type of exercise.

'We are going to have to go somewhere else. I don't want to have to spend four hours a day just to get somewhere that my dogs can actually get exercise.

'It is worrying. I just pray they don't do it because she won't get the exercise she needs.'

Miguel Rato, 37, says he moved to Hackney with his retriever Arlo specifically because of the park, and would consider leaving the country if this ban came into place.

He said: 'It is a terrible idea. It is so important for dogs to have a space to run. Most people here live in flats, so I have to take my dog to this park three times a day to have a run.

'They should at least have half the park which dog walkers can use. The park has space for everybody. It would be horrible if the ban went through. I would consider moving country.

'Most dogs here are small dogs they aren't going to harm anyone.'

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council, said: 'We have recently consulted on the introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order, to tackle dog-related antisocial behaviour. 

'As part of the consultation, residents, businesses, and stakeholders were asked to share their views.

'Responses are now being reviewed, and feedback will help to inform whether the council introduces a Public Spaces Protection Order, and what it covers'.