Activists from the Right to Roam campaign want a new deal for dogs to protect livestock and vulnerable wildlife from being threatened by Britain's growing dog population.
They are calling on the next government to introduce new measures to keep dogs under control, alongside a new right to roam for England that matches the freedoms allowed in Scotland.
"We love dogs and we recognise their value in getting people outdoors," said the naturalist and author Amy-Jane Beer of the Right to Roam campaign. "But dogs bring challenges and that requires a renewed social contract between dog owners and nature where we manage that relationship with care."
Beer, a dog owner, said it was "absurd" that the government has no idea of the UK's dog population - thought to have soared since the pandemic and may exceed 12m. There are many reports of "pandemic puppies" being poorly trained. Farmers have reported a surge in the number of sheep being killed by dogs since the national lockdowns.
Rangers for wildlife charities routinely say that out-of-control dogs and aggressive owners are their biggest visitor-related problem.
This story is from the June 15, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the June 15, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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