It has to be said that there is a certain hypocritical irony about Argyll and Bute Council soberly warning dog owners that they must comply with the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.
The council themselves have now failed twice even to try to comply with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.
One law for the dog owners to obey. One law – enacted in the same year – for the council to flout – with an impunity that would not be afforded any dog owner.
However – Argyll’s first irresponsible dog owner has now fallen foul of this new legislation; and the Council says: ‘The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 is designed to ensure that communities are protected from dogs which are out of control and to tackle irresponsible dog ownership.’
It is unarguably intimidating and potentially dangerous to the point of being life threatening for dogs to be out of control. Often such dogs are the breeds that ought to be in strict control at all times; and often they are dogs which it is questionable to keep as pets.
The council’s media statement announces that: ‘Argyll and Bute Council’s Streetscene team recently issued its first dog control notice (DCN) to a Dunoon resident who had repeatedly failed to keep their animal under control.
‘Under the notice, the owner is required not only to keep the dog under control but also to have a microchip implanted in the animal within 14 days (if it does not already have one) as a means of identifying both the dog and its owner.
‘Officers also have the power to include other measures on the notice if appropriate, such as muzzling the dog whenever it is in a public place, keeping it on a lead, neutering a male dog and attending a training course in dog control.
‘Failure to comply with any aspect of the DCN, say the Council in full school marm mode, could lead to a fine of up to £1,000, an order disqualifying the individual from owning a dog for a specific period of time and – if the court considers the dog is dangerous – an order for its destruction.’
The comparison of this enforcement and the penalties for non-compliance it carries is a painful invitation to satire, given that the council’s non-compliance with the Schools Act 2010 threatened the lives of first 23 and now 9 of Argyll’s rural communities. Listening to the council – rightly – laying down the law comes close to the surreal, with its own disregard for the law it does not wish to keep a flagrant and public act of defiance.
The delights of control orders, microchipping, muzzliing, keeping on a lead, neutering, attending training courses, fines and disqualifications start to make satire irresistable in the case of Argyll and Bute Council.
It gets even more seductive.
‘The focus of the new legislation is the ‘deed not the breed’ approach. Any dog has the potential to be the subject of a notice, whatever its size or breed.
‘Councillor Daniel Kelly (oh bliss), chair of the planning, protective services (not of Councillor George Freeman upon whom he let four mad dog fellow councillors loose without demur) and licensing committee, said the issuing of such a notice would always be a last resort. “This is something our officers will do only when all other avenues have been exhausted. But dog owners should be quite clear that we will not hesitate to use the powers we have been given if we deem it necessary.
‘ “Irresponsible dog owners and their animals are often the scourge of their communities, and out of control dogs are not just a public nuisance but can create genuine fear and anxiety for local residents. (Is this the council talking about itself here?)
‘ “The legislation is primarily aimed at the owners (yippee), rather than the dogs. If owners can be persuaded to change their behaviour before their dogs become dangerous, then the behaviour of the dogs will also improve.” ‘
The impossibility of taking remotely seriously any instruction from Argyll and Bute Council to obey the law is proof of just how profound is the damage the council has done in its own disregard for laws it finds inconvenient.
We do not make light of the risks of uncontrolled dogs and our core dispute with the council over its disgraceful conduct of two successive rural school closure programmes is essentially its unlawfulness.
It is a matter of real concern that Argyll is governed by a local authority administration which simply cannot be taken seriously as an advocate for and an enforcer of respect for the law.
It is hard not to go on to consider the instructive role of Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby and her counterpart waiting in the wings until May 2012 – Mrs Bedonebyasyoudid.
Oh what a blissfull image springs to mind – Sneddon – muzzled, neutered, and chained securely, while his owner, Sally, is castigated for failing to keep such an intrinsically dangerous beast, a “scourge of the communities”, under control. Gee whiz, what an inspiration to any budding street artist!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Control of dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 was clearly a missed opportunity by the government to introduce supporting legislation to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) act, in the same way that pubs in Sheffield during my university days introduced signs – ‘No dogs or students’ – for very good reason.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is rapidly turning into a single issue website. There is plenty more going on this week to be scrutinised and commented on, but 98% of the activity and comment on here revolves round rural schools.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For Webcraft: we accept there will be times that it will appear to be so until this issue is justly resolved.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Webcraft: It’s definitely top of the agenda, but that surely just reflects the gravity of the threat to rural communities by the still unfolding story of council ineptitude, arrogance and dishonesty.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Webcraft, I totally agree with you there. Unfortunately, there’s not much other news just now, but when it does come up, plenty of people address those articles.
Just look forward (like us) to the day when the council sees sense or has it forced upon them and we’ll all go away…… kind of LOL
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Webcraft: FA iIS highlighting one issue yes, but the issue IS Argyll and Bute Council trying to run roughshod over parents, pupils and communities, if this matter isnt high lighted what next? As I said to someone earlier
They came for the Hospice
But I didnt know anyone that ill
They came for the schools
But Im not a parent
What next? Your weekly rubbish collection, maybe street lighting. What about tipping all the old folks out onto the streets Im sure they can save a small fortune there, where will this current regime stop?
Yes its ‘just’ one issue but the one issue is very clearly highlighting some very serious problems with the very people who are supposed to be serving the community, by highlighting the schools as an issue and the totally farcical way that ABC are conducting themselves is showing the wider community that these people do not deserve to be voted into council next year.
VOTE ARSN 2012
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I have to strongly agree with Webcraft. This is a serious issue that is being lost in the schools debacle again. Frankly, as someone who has been seriously affected by a dog attack this is an appalling article.
Crazy she-bat, not much news? Goodness grief, there is more going on in Argyll than the school closures!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Newsroom – you would attract even more people, with wider perspectives and experience, if you covered the rest of the news in Argyll,
Show the breadth of what is going on in the rest of the community, then they are more likely to be drawn to the site and catch up with the schools issue.
If everything has to have a “schools” connotation, then you will lose the momentum you have created and be dismissed as a one trick pony with no substance.
and CSB – you cannot be MORE wrong, there is Plenty else going on in Argyll.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
My bad! I sincerely apologise Hughie, I forget how fighting for the survival of my kids school and the community they live in has taken over everything in my life. Its difficult when even tonight I fully expect to be up through half the night preparing the case for a public meeting.
I personally cannot wait until all we hear about are good things going on in Argyll and in my little corner of it, For Argyll has already made me much more aware of the issues that effect further afield.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
No matter how good the new legislation may be,there is no doubt that the very people who should be controlling their dogs will not give a hoot to any official telling them to do so!
But it is a start,and hopefully will have the desired effect.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Totally agree with CSB we would dearly love this issue to go away then concentrate on the wider issues, but as said before this issue is highlighting serious management flaws within the council.
Maybe FA should target other issues yes there are others around but this particular one is far reaching, right into the underbelly that is our local leadership, if people arent prepared to look at this issue and then something comes along and bites into their lives they will rant away too and wonder why no-one is taking notice and the likes of myself, csb, ARSN etc will say ‘we tried warn you’
So lets talk dog owners, the ones that let their dogs loose on the streets of Dunoon where the young have to walk to and from schools (sorry couldnt resist) Maybe FA would like to put up some research into the dangers of dogs on the road, how many accidents are caused by dogs running into a road, BTW have you seen the damage that can be caused by hitting a dog that just runs into the path of an on coming car?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Crazy She-Bat said “My bad! I sincerely apologise Hughie, I forget how fighting for the survival of my kids school and the community they live in has taken over everything in my life. Its difficult when even tonight I fully expect to be up through half the night preparing the case for a public meeting.”
Good for you and hats off to your dedication towards saving the schools. You are however missing the point that this article should be about what it is and not another avenue to spout about the school closures.
Crazy She-Bat said “I personally cannot wait until all we hear about are good things going on in Argyll and in my little corner of it, For Argyll has already made me much more aware of the issues that effect further afield.”
Absolutely but lets not cloud every article with the same old.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
CSB – the fact that there are other things happening does not diminish the affect that the schools closure process is having on some communities. Quite the contrary.
It is the fact that FA editorial chooses to twist every other story into being about the schools closures, instead of a fresh look at what the actual issue is.
That diminishes FA, and makes it less attractive to other parts of our community. These are exactly the people you all need to learn more about the issues, and get on your side if 2012 is really going to be a change in our council administration.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
webcraft – with respect, it was only a few weeks ago that you were posting several posts on here daily about wind turbines/renewables etc and for some considerable weeks. At that time the ‘live’ topic was renewables.
Because of recent developments in the school saga and with the public consultations etc, it is the schools issue that is live just now.
Hughie – I agree with you 100%, dangerous dogs are a real issue and the page should be dedicated solely to that. FA’s view of the irony of the situation above is I’m sure shared by many, but it could easily be misintepretted by those who are not aware of it’s sentiment and meaning.
However I would also ask for some understanding of the posts on here relating to the schools. It is coming to an important stage with this and parents/children are naturally apprehensive and anxious about it’s outcome. Hopefully they shouldn’t have to suffer too much longer and the focus, in the short term, will move away from the schools and onto other just as valid and important issue’s.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
There are 9 articles on the news page
3 are to do with the schools directly
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Points taken. Anyway back to the dog poop…
They should have made a Dangerous Owners Act to go alongside the dogs one. Unfortunately, there is a section of society that takes no responibility for anything and certainly not their dogs.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think it is quite a good analogy and I don’t think the analogy detracts from the seriousness of dangerous dogs and how their owners should be dealt with by law.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
OK, onto topic then – here’s my pet hate ( and just for clarity I am a dog owner, always have been and always will be) – it’s those stupid people who pick up after their dogs, tie the poly bag into a nice little bundle, then drop it. Dog dirt left lying in public places is unpleasant and unjustifiable, but dog dirt in a polybag is forever. If you’re not going to bin it then for pete’s sake take a big stick or the toe of your welly and flick it off the path and into the undergrowth instead, where the weather can deal with it!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It is not the dogs that are at fault. It is irresponsible owners who do not train their dogs properly and do not clean up their dog poo in the street. We own two dogs and always have poo bags with us in case we have to pick up their mess whilst out for a walk.
Argyll & Bute Council do not help matters by charging for poo bags at the local service point. Considering the amount of money that is spent by the council on dog enforcement officers and dog wardens I would have thought that poo bags could have been handed out free of charge.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I believe the local Streetscene manager is taking a personal interest in this matter, and is very much hands on, interfering actually.
What a load of nonsense. And such a waste of money. Get him out of the office and roll up his sleeves and tidy our ‘Dirty old town’. Oban very run down and tired looking. Sadly.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Phill,
What in particular is bothering you about Oban town centre?
What would put it right in your opinion?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Islayresident is right to a point but these nice little bundles often get thrown beside signs etc and as someone who goes around strimming the grass when hit by a splatter you often hope it was a slug …….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Who is Oban’s local Streetscene manager?
just curious..
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Dog Control legislation is a farce. I live in a small courtyard where dogs regularly foul the yard and lane AND up to 3 dogs are let loose at once with no one supervising them. The dog wardens can’t prosecute because they never see them doing it and the police don’t seem interested because the dogs aren’t ‘dangerous’. However, they’re a bloody nuisance because they come in my house,chase my cat and scare the s**t of people who come through our gate and who are nervous of dogs.
Can’t dog owners get it into their heads that we don’t all love dogs?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0