Brighton Euro MP takes dog beach ban to RSPCA
29 February 2008
The row over Tory-led Brighton and Hove Council's plans to ban dogs from the city's beaches has been taken to the RSPCA. Green Euro-MP Caroline Lucas, a Vice-President of the RSPCA, has written to the charity's director.
She asked whether the RSPCA shares concerns over the proposed ban’s impact on animal welfare.
The council also wants dogs to be on leads on golf courses and other open spaces.
Dr Lucas said: “This is a case of proposing a sledgehammer to crack a nut if ever there was one.
"Of course tackling dog mess – which can cause blindness and other serious illness - and intimidation of residents and visitors to the city by uncontrolled dogs should be a priority.
"However a ban on dogs is essentially a ban on dog owners.
"It can only have terrible consequences for human health, animal welfare and civil liberties.
“The Council should instead be promoting responsible dog ownership: coming
down hard on the selfish minority of dog owners whose refusal to control or clean up after their pets.”
Banning dogs would threaten the welfare of animals left in cars by visitors unaware of the beach ban until their arrival in the city.
It would also boost obesity amongst dog owners who would walk their pets less – and hit the isolated and elderly, those whose companion dogs make life bearable, hardest.
Dr Lucas urged councillors to reconsider the proposed ban.
Notes to editors:
1. For more information see www.myspace.com/barkingmadcampaign2. Dr Lucas is Green Party MEP for South-East England the party’s
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Pavilion
For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 07973 823358 or
ben@greenmeps.org.uk
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
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