DOGS have been blamed for damaging play equipment in Huddersfield parks.
And the havoc wreaked by “irresponsible” dog owners was hailed as another reason to support a ban on them from children’s play areas.
A Huddersfield councillor revealed an astonishing statistic – 150 swing seats have been chewed up by dogs over the past five years, at a cost to the local taxpayer of more than £10,000.
Owners have been using the swings to strengthen the jaws of their dogs – tough-looking breeds which are often used as “status symbols”.
The damage was revealed by Clr Christine Stanfield, who has welcomed the news that Kirklees Council is considering a package of measures to ban dogs from play areas.
The new Dog Control Orders are to be debated by the council’s cabinet on Tuesday and will then be put out for public consultation.
Clr Stanfield, herself a dog-owner, said: “I am particularly pleased about the proposed ban on dogs in children’s play areas, not only for the health and safety of children but because of the damage.
“Over the years the council has had to replace something like 150 swing seats at a cost of £70 a seat because dog owners have allowed their pets to chew on them as they are swinging in order to strengthen their jaws, which has some nasty connotations.
“I fail to see why any responsible dog-owner would want to do such a thing but the parks staff have seen the damage done to seats, with dog teeth marks clearly visible.
“It is certainly another reason not to have dogs in play areas.”
A council spokesman said: “We estimate that damage from dog bites is the reason for 90% of seat replacements.
“Clearly this is anti-social behaviour in play areas that are intended as safe environments for local children to enjoy”.
Websites for people wanting to train dogs such as pitbulls advocate such practices.
One said: “Handlers make their dogs tug on hanging objects, like tyres, to increase jaw strength.
“Some handlers file their dogs’ teeth to be as sharp as possible so that maximum damage can be inflicted.”
THE new orders to be considered by Kirklees Council are far tougher than previous measures.
After consideration by the council, they will then go out for public consultation. The plans include:
Powers to require unruly dogs to be on leads in five major parks, including Greenhead, Beaumont and Ravensknowle
A ban on dogs in play areas and sports pitches
A ban on dogs in council-run allotments and cemeteries, and on school fields
More than 400 council staff given powers to hand out £75 penalty fines on owners who breach the orders.
