Dog owners in Carmarthenshire are being reassured that there are no plans to introduce control orders in all public areas.
It follows concerns raised by a number of people who have heard rumours that the county council is to introduce new rules meaning their dogs will have to be kept on leads at all times.
The issue has been discussed by councillors previously in response to complaints received by members of the public.
The council has now moved to assure people there are no immediate plans to introduce dog control orders anywhere in the county.
New laws coming in the autumn would give them the power to do this, however it would only happen in problem areas and after full consultation.
The new legislation is being introduced by the UK Government on anti-social behaviour, it is expected that it will be at least October before it could be used as the final orders have not yet been drawn up.
The new Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, would allow local authorities to bring in controls on dogs under the Public Spaces Protection Order.
It would only be used where appropriate, in areas where dogs off leads were causing problems for members of the public.
It would follow full and extensive consultation before any decisions were taken to enforce the order.
Executive board member for enforcement Cllr Jim Jones said: “We really want to reassure people that there is certainly no plan in place for dogs to be kept on leads at all times in all public places. In fact, there are no plans in place at all at the moment.
“These new powers will enable the council to enforce an order for dogs to be kept on leads in an area where there have been problems.
“We would only consider doing this where it would be a sensible solution and there would be consultation before it would be considered by councillors.
“I hope this reassures dog owners that there is no move afoot to bring in any orders, and that there will always be public places where their pets can run freely off the lead.
“Any use of the new order, if and when it comes in, would only be to resolve issues in problem areas.”
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