A number of NFDOG members and other dog walkers, have been  upset by an article in The Daily Telegraph, saying £1,000 fines were looming for New Forest walkers not using a lead at all times. The long and short of this is that the article, with unattributable ‘facts’, seems to be based on one person’s (well established and oft-repeated) view, expressed in the public forum of the September Verderers' Court. 

This ‘presentment’ was picked up by the Lymington Times, and later we believe by Solent News Agency. They make money by selling stories to other media. Thery built-up and weaponised the topic, which was then used by The Daily Telegraph as click-bait. An emotive subject, attracting interest and thus traffic on their website. 

Judging by the emails we’ve responding to, it worked. It also stirred some Facebook interest. NFDOG responded with sympathy, but added context about the rarity of attacks, and the more than 50 other comments were 90 percent in agreement with us that it does happen, but it’s rare, and indeed most people have never seen dogs attack livestock or wildlife. We firmly believe dogs should be under control and deplore any attack, but it’s important to state the facts as they are..

The bottom line is this is the view of one person, blown out of all proportion to make the media money. 

NFDOG is well respected and connected with the authorities of the New Forest such as Forestry England, New Forest District Council, the Verderers, and the National Park Authority. If there was any discussion along the lines described by The Telegraph, we’d be aware. 

It is true that the Public Space Protection Orders come up for their three-year review in 2026. NFDOG expects a debate specifically about dog poo. Given our position on ‘Bag it – Bin it’, and the considerable efforts we’ve made to improve the minority of irresponsible dog walkers’ behaviour, it may be, after due debate, that we’d support a PSPO specifically about that. 

But no more, and as such the Telegraph story is misleading at best. NFDOG will defend the permission of dog owners to responsibly walk freely with their dogs in the New Forest. 

Finally, as you’ll see below, the story included a statement from Councillor David Harrison from Totton. He says he was not asked to quote and this has been lifted selectively from other comments he's made, and ignores his wider view . ‘Most dog owners are responsible people, how much dogs and people enjoy the New Forest, what good work you do, that I don’t favour more laws, that more education and peer pressure is the way forward…’.