A petition has been launched to combat a new commercial dog walking ban at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.
The petition, which has gained more than 500 signatures, was created after signs were erected to warn that commercial dog walking is no longer permitted in the area.
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which operates events at the site, said it has received complaints from other dog walkers that their animals had been attacked.
However dog walkers have hit back, saying they provide a “valuable service to the local community” and the area provides a vital space for dogs to exercise and socialise.
The petition, launched by Hannah Whewell, reads:
“Professional dog walkers provide a vital service, ensuring that pets receive the exercise and care they need while their owners work or have other commitments.
“Many of us have built our businesses and livelihoods around providing safe, responsible, and community-minded dog walking services.
“The ban not only threatens our ability to work but also forces dog owners to find alternative, often less suitable, solutions for their pets.”
In response, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said they have been “inundated” with calls about dog attacks and abuse that the general public have had from commercial dog walkers.
Allister Nixon, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said:
"We welcome dog walkers, I'm a dog owner myself, but in the past three or four months we've been inundated with calls and complaints from the general public about dog attacks, and abuse owners in the general public have received from commercial dog walkers.
"We can have seven or eight vans a day arrive with groups of up to 12 dogs at any one time - we had one complaint where three vans arrived at once and there were 30 dogs.
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