By Joe McCann
COUNCILLORS have considered a proposal which would limit the number of dogs a person can walk in the Ards and North Down borough to four after numerous complaints regarding bad behaviour from poorly controlled pets.
At a recent committee meeting of the council, the proposal was put forward by Green Party councillors Lauren Kendall and Barry McKee who said similar limits had been put into place by Belfast City Council.
The motion noted a rise in professional dog walkers in the borough, with concerns over a lack of licensing, registration or other requirements including training and experience, which may pose risks to other people and pets.
The report suggested that professional dog walkers should keep animals on leads, that a public education campaign on responsible dog ownership be set up, and that the council lobby for registration and regulation of professional dog walkers to ensure proper training, insurance and standards.
Ms Kendall, who proposed the motion, said the rise of professional dog walkers had created risks for both animals and the public. “More dogs mean greater chances of fights, fouling and loss of control,” she said. “There is no licensing or registration requirement at present, which poses risks not only to dogs but also to those enjoying parks and public spaces.”
Seconding the motion, Mr McKee said: “This is about ensuring our public spaces remain safe and accessible for everyone, including responsible dog owners, families, joggers and cyclists. Limiting the number of dogs to four strikes a balance between safety and practicality, as managing multiple dogs, especially unfamiliar ones, requires skill, experience and constant vigilance.”
SDLP councillor Joe Boyle supported the plan but said he would personally prefer a lower limit. “I’ve been a dog owner for 27 years and still come across irresponsible owners,” he said.
“Four dogs might even be too high, but it’s a starting point. Some people can’t even control one dog on a lead, let alone two or three.”
Welcoming the proposals, but highlighting some concerns over enforcement, UUP councillor Pete Wray said: “The motion makes absolute sense,” he said, “but council officers already face heavy workloads. Without proper resources, there’s a risk the public will see rules but no action behind them.”
The question of enforcement was also raised by Alliance councillor Hannah Irwin who said: “Our dog wardens and regulatory team already have pressures around fouling and lead control. We need to consider where resources are best placed, but overall the principle of responsible dog ownership is one I fully back.”
DUP councillor Alistair Cathcart added that he also supported the motion, though he cautioned against overly strict rules. “I struggle to walk two dogs myself, so I understand the difficulty with larger numbers,” he said.
“There should be regulation to ensure dogs are cared for properly, but I wouldn’t want to see rules so restrictive that responsible owners are unfairly penalised.”
The motion was agreed and will now go to full council for approval.
