Dog-owner pleading for exercise freedom

A local man is pleading with Lisburn City Council to lift a Control Order he says prevents him from properly exercising his subsequently suffering dog.
Fundraisers at Bow StreetFundraisers at Bow Street
Fundraisers at Bow Street

Peter Collins says his pleas have been falling on deaf ears, with the result that he must preside over the “daily deterioration in health and wellbeing of a young, energetic German Shepherd pup”.

In securing an order that insists the dog must be kept on a leash at all times in public places, the local authority, , insists it has acted in a reasonable manner, this following an incident in May when Mr Collins’ dog got out of the garden at his Hillsborough home and into an adjacent field containing a number of cattle.

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There was nothing, according to Mr Collins, to suggest his dog attacked the animals.

“But as a responsible owner, he said, he took steps to tether the animal with a steel cable and, in addition to exercising it at Lisburn’s Wallace Park, which he considers and ideal venue, he secured permits allowing him to excercise it at a number of forest parks.

However, on July 18, he said, he received news of the Control Order, which he considers a disproportionate response on the part of Lisburn City council and its dogwarden. In an email to the Mayor, Mr Collins condemned the order as a “nonsense”, adding: “It does not address the situation in any way.

“It is made more ludicrous by the fact that it wasn’t imposed until a full two months after the event.

“To continue to uphold the order is patently indefensible.”

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In a written plea to the council, ahead of a formal appeal, Mr Collins asked for a suspension of, and ultimately an amendment to or rescinding of, the Control Order.

He said: “I do believe however that the requirement to keep him on a leash in all public places is a totally arbitrary punishment, does nothing to alleviate the original problem and instead, by depriving the dog of appropriate exercise, is likely to exacerbate the conditions in which the first incident took place.”

Mr Collins declined an invitation from the council meet them to discuss the matter further, perceiving it as “prevarication” of the part of the council.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “Lisburn City Council acted in a measured and reasonable manner following the incident involving Mr Collins’ dog.

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“Council officers have offered to meet Mr Collins to discuss the matter; however he has declined that offer and requested a further written response to the points he has raised.

“That response has been sent within recent days.”

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