A council has defended its decision to ask a dog owner to keep her pet on its lead in a park following a number of complaints from the public. Debra Reynolds, 64, has shared her frustrations after Nottingham City Council instructed her to keep her two-year-old Border Collie on a lead at a Basford park after it said it was “out of control”.
Ms Reynolds, who has had Trixie for just over a year, enjoyed taking her to Vernon Park multiple times a day and claims her dog is no more aggressive than any other dog in the park. Nottingham City Council said it had received formal complaints from members of the public about Trixie, which it has acted upon. in the form of verbal and written warnings.
Ms Reynolds has received two formal warning letters from the council. If Trixie is found straying again, she will be fined.
Vernon Park has a public space protection order in place, where dog walkers may be asked to keep their dog on a lead or put their dog on a lead if told to by a police officer, police community support officer or someone from the council. Ms Reynolds, who uses a mobility scooter, said that Trixie can be difficult on the lead, and so is often better off one.
Speaking on whether the two-year-old dog is aggressive, she said: “She is no more aggressive than any other dog in the park. She likes hiding in trees and long grass and things like that she runs out when I throw the ball, but I think she upset a few people doing that.”
Nottingham City Council said it had received formal complaints about Trixie from members of the public who felt “intimidated”, and said her dog was “out of control.” Ms Reynolds said she was first told to keep Trixie on the lead by a Community Protection Officer (CPO) on January 11, 2023, but claims she thought the warning had been revoked after speaking to a senior CPO. Nottingham City Council said it then issued a Community Protection Warning Notice (CPWN) which is a written warning, after seeing the dog off the lead again.
Ms Reynolds, who has owned dogs since she was 13 years old and has been visiting the park since she was a child, has now been issued with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) after the dog was seen straying. This is a final warning to keep Trixie on her lead before being issued a fine. Ms Reynolds said that she feels targeted by CPO and does not agree with how the officer handled the incident.
Speaking on the requirement to keep Trixie on her lead, Ms Reynolds added: “This is very detrimental to mine and her health." A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “Our city is blessed with an abundance of parks which are there for everyone to enjoy.
"Some, including Vernon Park, are subject to Public Spaces Protection Orders which can require dogs to be on leads, or have to be placed on a lead if asked by a police or council officer, among other restrictions.
“We received a number of complaints about Ms Reynolds’ dog being off the lead, out of control and running up to other dogs and park users, some who felt intimidated. Our Community Protection team pointed out the order in place and asked her to keep the dog on its lead in future.
“Ms Reynolds has now received two formal warning letters from us after further incidents. If this happens a fourth time we will have no option but to issue a fine.”
