Dog owners are being warned after Rossendale Council in Lancashire announced it will fine anyone £75 who is found walking more than five dogs at a time.

Whether you have multiple dogs you walk together, or work as a dog walker for others in Lancashire, it may mean you have to be careful which outdoor areas you head to.

The new decision by the council has upset those who regularly walk their dogs in the North West region.

Carolyn Sheridan, a local from the area who has five dogs, explained to the Express that she is saddened she won't be able to walk her pups together.

"I do feel that Rossendale council are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut," she told the paper. "I completely acknowledge that certain issues need to be resolved, such as anti-social behaviour with dogs, and dog mess."

Caroline Kisko from The Kennel Club explained the fine is unfair for those with multiple dogs.

She said: "Placing a limit on the number of dogs a person can walk is an inappropriate approach to dog control when the maximum number of dogs a person can walk in a controlled manner should depend on a number of factors relating to the dog walker, the dogs being walked, whether leads are used and the location."



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Caroline added: "Setting a maximum number risks penalising responsible dog owners owing simply to the number of dogs they own, despite keeping them under control, whereas an inexperienced dog owner may struggle to keep a single dog under control."

A council spokesman said he had "nothing to add other than to say when we consulted people [an] overwhelming number of people agreed with the stance."

Earlier this year, Lancashire council also implemented further fines for owners who don't carry waste bags, or put their dogs on a lead when instructed to by an officer.

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