All dog owners in Teignbridge could be forced to hold a licence.

Dog licensing in England was abolished in 1987, but they remain required in Ireland and Northern Ireland as a condition of being able to own and keep a pet.

A Review Group was set up to consider how successful the new dog controls that were introduced in Teignbridge in April has been.

An interim report of the group, which is being reported to next Tuesday’s overview and scrutiny committee meeting, recommends that the number of dogs that any one person can walk at any one time remain at six, as there is insufficient evidence to reduce the number.

But they also considered introducing a new control that all dogs should require a licence. The report says that while it was considered that there was merit in all dogs being licenced, further consideration of the idea is required.

It says: “The addition of a dog licence for all dogs within Teignbridge would create additional administration and enforcement and it is not clear that the level of fee would cover the implications on the revenue budget.”

Prior to the abolition of dog licenses in 1987, they were mandatory, but the requirement was widely ignored, with only about half of owners having one.

Other recommendations the review group make include keeping the seasonal dog exclusion areas on beaches from April 1 to September 30, stating that there is no evidence to suggest the date should be altered to May 1 as there are plenty of beaches that can be used all year round.

Dog walking individuals who are walking other peoples’ dogs – by collecting the dogs from their owner’s house and returning them – should be licensed, the group also recommends, stating ‘individuals who do not have a residence based business such as those who provide a dog walking service only should be licensed’.

The Review Group will be undertaking a further review of the PSPO in April 2020.

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