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Sark’s government has relaxed a 50-year-old law that prevented residents importing and keeping unspayed dogs, with one politician saying the restrictions were “onerous” on responsible pet owners.
Chief Pleas agreed to amend the law which was originally enacted in 1970 to stop feral or uncontrolled dogs becoming a nuisance in the island.
But now it's been relaxed with the support of the Bailiwick's States Vet, David Chamberlain, and Conseiller Helen Plummer, Chair of Sark's Agriculture, Environment & Sea Fisheries Committee, saying the law was “practically unenforceable”.
She added than any accidental puppies which are born are the responsibility of the owner, with dog parents urged to prevent such accidents from occurring in the first place.
The debate also saw Conseiller Sandra Williams call for greater restrictions on dog fouling, and questioned whether a rule should be brought in requiring dogs to be kept on the lead.
She noted that piles of faeces on main roads were unsightly for tourists, with residents also finding poo in their front gardens when dogs are left to roam free with an “awful lot” of people who don’t ever pick it up.
Conseiller Plummer agreed to consider the issue but said it’s also a common issue in Guernsey and is equally hard to police.
It was noted that chipping and DNA testing of faeces could single out offenders, but this would be a costly solution.
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