Dog walker rules could be toughened, council told

Rossendale Council has been asked to consider extending dog control

Dog walkers in a Lancashire borough could face new rules including tighter limits on the number of dogs that can be exercised outdoors at the same time.

A report prepared for Rossendale Council by staff at the local authority has highlighted how issues like dog fouling and litter were a "key concern" for residents.

Councillors have been asked to renew the existing public space protection orders, which are used to address issues with anti-social behaviour, on dog walking in the town.

The changes come after a public consultation and would see the number of dogs a person can take out for exercise cut from five to four.

The cut in the number of dogs that can be exercised is in-line with advice from the RSPCA and Professional Dog Walker's Association, a council spokeswoman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The order was needed to limit the risk of dog problems, with fights, attacks, pack instinct behaviour and dog dirt "becoming overwhelming", the council report said.

Rossendale Council is expected to discuss the proposal to extend the orders to run for a further three years later this month.