Public parks, squares and gardens in the city are the places where it is more likely for people to suffer anti-social behaviour from some dog owners. In a bid to correct anti-social attitudes, the City Police are running an enforcement campaign all week, until Sunday, 19 November.
The general goals of the campaign are:
- Raise public awareness of the need for respectful behaviour when it comes to responsible pet ownership, particularly with dogs.
- Make owners aware of the importance of complying with current regulations, particularly the specific regulation on potentially dangerous dogs.
- Check that animals wear restraining systems such as a collar, harness, lead, chain or muzzle guard.
- Check the census and the identification of pets, particularly dogs (ID chips beneath the skin, carried out by a vet, or an ID tattoo).
- Avoid the presence of pets in children’s parks or gardens used by young children.
- Enforce regulations in connection with the presence of dogs on public transport.
Ultimately, this operation will see members of the corps responding to conduct linked to pet ownership which poses an issue for coexistence or the degradation of public space.
The by-law on the protection, ownership and sale of animals (OPTVA) regulates the interaction of people and domestic animals in public space and offers the City Police effective tools to tackle anti-social behaviour that may disrupt coexistence.