Dog owners in South Lakeland have been alerted to a consultation currently talking place that could affect dog walking access in the area.
A dog control order consultation is taking place until September 24th and could lead to restrictions on South Lakeland's public areas, including the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said that these orders are becoming more common, with councils trying to find ways to control dog fouling and irresponsible owners.
"Unfortunately, this often means responsible dog owners are also penalised and have to suffer restrictions," she said.
"Dogs need to be able to get enough exercise, and allowing a dog to run off lead is a big part of this, so restricting exercise to a lead in South Lakeland’s open spaces has a potentially negative welfare implication which needs to be addressed."
South Lakeland District Council is proposing four orders relating to dog control. The orders include a fouling of land by dogs order, which would make it illegal not to clean up dog waste a dogs on lead order.
The other orders are a dogs on lead by direction order, meaning owners would have to keep dogs on their leads if instructed to by an authorised official, and a dog exclusion order, so dogs are banned from entering certain areas.
