What’s behind the UK’s sudden dislike of dogs?

Good morning. You may not have noticed, but there could be a battle going on over control of your local park.

No, it’s not one of the reenactments of the Battle of Hastings (that was last weekend, though). It’s a fight between the UK’s estimated 12 million dog owners – a number that swelled by about 1 million since the onset of the pandemic – and non-dog owners who have had enough of negotiating packs of unruly dogs being walked by professional walkers, stepping in the unmentionable and fearing a growing number of attacks.

It comes as the number of dog attacks reported to the police has increased by 22% to almost 14,000, according to ITV News. A string of horrific attacks by XL bully dogs led the prime minister to announce a ban on the breed, which he said was “a danger to our communities”.

Councils across the UK are increasingly turning to public space protection orders (dog control) to legally enforce restrictions on dogs in parks, cemeteries, meadows and other green spaces. The orders can extend from dogs being banned from roaming off the lead to a total “dog exclusion” from specified areas. Nobody (I’ve tried quite hard) appears to track the number of dog exclusion orders in place, but pet charity Dogs Trust reckons there are 752 public space protection orders (PSPOs) in England and Wales.

After the headlines, we’ll (try) to go for a walk in Callington, Cornwall, which has been called “Britain’s most unwelcoming town for dogs” after the council banned them from all its parks – meaning its four-legged population is restricted to only pavement walks.

Five big stories

In depth: ‘Life is miserable enough, without not being able to take your dog out’

“There’s absolutely nowhere in town that anyone can take their dogs for a walk,” Penny Ward, a Callington town councillor and “mother” of Bow, a miniature Maltese (pictured above), and Bear, a rescue dog who “had to be called Bear cos he looks like one”.

Ward, who works as a virtual personal assistant, said the council has put in place the maximum “dog exclusion” PSPO on every park in town. “So the only option is to drive out of town, which is annoying for me. But think about elderly and disabled people – they are effectively banned from walking their dogs on any grass.

“Cornwall markets itself as the dog-friendly county,” Ward, 63, says. “But Callington has to be the least dog-friendly town in the country.”

Dog parks denied

When she first moved to Callington from Buckinghamshire three years ago Ward couldn’t believe that dogs were banned from all the parks. “But it really was true.” So she stood for election to be a councillor to try to create a small space in one of the parks for well-behaved dogs. “Life is hard and miserable enough, without not being able to take your dog out.”

She won election to the council in February, but has so far failed to create the dog park. “The council has PSPOs against dogs in the parks, and they just keep renewing them.”

Ward had proposed fencing in a small part of Launceston recreation ground for dog walking. “But I lost the vote last week eight to one, and the PSPO will enforce it for another three years,” she says.

Ward claims the council failed in its duty to properly consult residents about the PSPO and claims a majority of people voted for the dog park in an unofficial survey run by the local MP Sheryll Murray.

Callington’s mayor Peter Watson said: “The proposal to establish a dog-walking area on the Launceston Road recreational field has been discussed twice and on both occasions has been rejected by the council.

“The councillors’ concerns about this proposal included public health issues, the potential risk to other users in particular families and young children, and the potential costs which would fall on all parishioners, ie, an increase in local tax rate.”

Ward is refusing to walk away. “I am considering challenging [the dog ban] as no consultation has taken place with affected parties. This entails going to the high court so it would be difficult.”

Walking protests

It’s not just in Callington where temperatures are running high over dog bans. In north Wales dog walkers last month staged a “walking protest” against council plans to ban dogs from a long stretch of beach between Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay year-round.

Maggie Steed, who played Margaret Crabbe in BBC comedy Pie in the Sky, is one of almost 100 people who have signed a petition against a proposal from Hackney council to ban off-lead dogs in Abney Park cemetery in east London.

Hundreds have signed a petition against a new PSPO banning dogs from the memorial gardens in Mold, Flintshire. In Chichester the district council last month voted to extend a PSPO covering Priory Park and Bishop’s Palace Gardens, despite fierce opposition.

This summer Cambridge council more than doubled the number of open green spaces in the city where dogs must be kept on a lead “to help protect wildlife” during the bird-nesting season, while Liverpool council last year banned dogs from more than 70 playgrounds and sports pitches.

Creating Jubilee Bark dog-play park

While many councils are banning dogs from parks, others are creating dedicated “dog play parks” like those found in New York where dogs can play in fenced-off areas with no threat to other park users.

Cramlington, in Northumberland, this summer opened “Jubilee Bark” within the town’s Alexandra Park, and Hillingdon council is considering a petition calling for one in west London.

Pat Heard, a Cramlington councillor and founder of local charity Dogs First, said: “This is a great opportunity for owners to let their dogs have a good run around as socialising your dog is so important. As I am also a town councillor, I may be biased, but I think this is a super addition to the council’s facilities and I am sure it will be well used by the town’s residents – and their four-legged friends.

“We are now hoping to open another one,” said Heard, who often visits the park with her five dogs. “It’s been incredible. So many people have made friends through their dogs making friends with other dogs. We watch the dogs enjoying themselves – you can’t help but smile.”

What else we’ve been reading

Football fans worldwide paid their tributes to the legend Sir Bobby Charlton (pictured above) who died on Saturday. Dominic Booth has written about the World Cup winner’s enduring legacy and the “unquantifiable” love that Manchester United supporters have for him. Nimo Omer, assistant editor, First Edition

Anna Moore speaks to reality TV star Georgia Harrison about her experience as a revenge porn survivor, the horrors of finding out something so private had been shared and the process of getting her abuser jailed. Nyima, newsletters team

Is it normal to feel tired all the time? Joel Snape delves into the world of constantly feeling knackered by speaking to sleep experts who reckon there’s a major difference between feeling tired and actually being fatigued. Nyima

Remember Covid? Well, it hasn’t forgotten us. As the winter months approach many are paying close attention to the virus. Hannah Devlin has written a helpful explainer on how worried we should be and what to do if you develop symptoms. Nimo

Conkers have made a comeback. Huck reports on the madness of Peckham Conker Championships which includes players wrestling each other and a concrete, resin-filled conker. Nyima

Sport

Football | Aston Villa defeated West Ham 4-1 to send Unai Emery’s side fifth in the Premier League table. Two goals from Douglas Luiz, pictured above, one from Ollie Watkins and an 89th-minute strike from Leon Bailey sealed the win.

Cricket | India remain unbeaten after defeating New Zealand by four wickets during the Cricket World Cup. Virat Kohli hit 95 and, although he could not complete the chase, was instrumental again as India reached a victory target of 274 with two overs to spare.

F1 | Having put in a real shift to win the US Grand Prix there was no little irony that it was this race, amid an all-conquering season, that Max Verstappen was greeted with booing as he took to the podium. A shame, as it was undeserved. He won for the 50th time under the sort of pressure he has not encountered all year.

The front pages

The Guardian’s headline is “Pressure intensifies on Israel to negotiate release of Gaza hostages” as families worry that time is running out to get their relatives back ahead of a ground invasion. In the i, “Hostage mother and daughter are released” over a picture of the two women who were freed last week. In the Financial Times it’s “US warns of conflict escalation risk as tensions rise across Middle East”. A More domestic take in other papers. The Times says “Braverman takes on Met Chief over ‘jihad’ protest” after some ministers condemned police for their handling of weekend demonstrations in London. The Mail also takes this line saying “Suella’s fury at Met over ‘Jihad’ chants”. In the Telegraph, “Braverman challenge to Met over jihad rally chanting”. In the Sun,“Unbelievable” is the headline as the paper reports on what it describes as video circulating of a tube driver leading passengers on pro-Palestinian chants. A different story on the front page of the Mirror with “Brothers forever”, on tributes after the death of former Manchester United and England great, Sir Bobby Charlton.

Today in Focus

Cartoon of the day | Ben Jennings

The Upside

A bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad

Introducing speed dating with a twist. In New York, activist Kristy Drutman (pictured above) has created an event called Love and Climate, a video series where environmentally conscious singles are able to find romantic love and bond over their devotion to the climate crisis. Whether participants discuss the depressing thought that the world could be ending if drastic measures aren’t taken or simply swooning over a love of plant-based food, the event seeks to show that having shared values with a potential partner is a positive step towards a meaningful, lasting connection.

Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday

Bored at work?

And finally, the Guardian’s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.

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