DOG owners have hit out at council proposals to keep dogs on leads at nearly 50 open spaces across Wey-mouth and Portland.

Spokesperson, Bev Ogden, 37, has blasted proposed Dog Control Orders that would force her and fellow dog owners to exercise their pets on leads at areas including the designated dog area of Weymouth Beach.

“This feels like ‘big brother’ telling us where we can and can’t walk our dogs. We feel the majority of dog owners are being penalised for a minority who have ‘problem dogs’.

“These proposals will have a massive impact on dogs and their owners. Dogs are social animals and need to be exercised off the lead.

“If you don’t let them off the lead, you create problems and make them ‘lead aggressive’,” said teaching assistant, Bev, who owns three dogs.

But Councillor Ian James, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s brief-holder for community safety, said the council had to represent the interests of all people.

“We have got to look after the interests of everybody.

“Although we are nation of dog lovers, there are some people who are petrified of dogs. Most dog owners are responsible people, but the sad fact is that there will always be a handful of irresponsible owners. We have to cover all occasions,” said Coun James.

The community safety chief urged people to make their feelings known in an eight-week public consultation on proposals to replace local bylaws with Dog Control Orders.

Owners could face on-the-spot fines of up to £80 if they fail to clean up after their dogs, or allow them on to land from which dogs are banned.

Dogs would be kept from play parks, skateparks, bowling and putting greens, basketball and tennis courts, and all other recreation areas displaying ‘dog exclusion signs’, under the proposals. The fines would also apply to owners who fail to keep their dogs on leads in certain areas, even when ordered to do so by the dog warden.

Public gardens, allotments, and recreation grounds, including the Rodwell Trail and all parts of Lodmoor Country Park, except for the dog exercise area, are among the areas at proposed under a ‘dogs on leads’ order.

Owners who fail to pay within 14 days, persistent offenders, or those who fail to give their name and address to the dog warden, face a court appearance and fines of up to £1,000.

Registered deaf, blind, or disabled people would not be subject to the orders, according to a council statement.

Local people have until September 11 to have their say on the proposals, which can be found at www.weymouth.gov.uk.

Councillors are expected to vote on the proposals early next year.