Have your say on the dog lead rules for Bradgate Park

A spate of deer deaths blamed on dogs running loose in Bradgate Park has reignited the debate about when dogs should be kept on leads. Since 2016 it has been against the rules to let dogs run loose in parts of the park, with threat of a £100 fine.

But that rule only covers about a quarter of the park. In the past month the park has seen four deer deaths caused by dogs, the Bradgate Park Trust said in a Facebook post on Thursday (February 13).

The trust did not say where in the park the incidents occurred. But many people responding to the news called for dogs to be kept on their leads in all areas of the park from now on.

READ MORE: Dogs to blame as four Bradgate Park deer die

One person said: "Even the most well-behaved dog can revert back to its natural instinct to run and hunt when faced with wildlife. Keep them all on a lead. Fair for everyone and also safer."

Many other people agreed. One added: "All dogs should be kept on leads as they will be unpredictable when they see the deer." Another said: "There's no need nowadays - we have extendable leads."

We've put together a simple poll to ask our readers what they think. Should the current rule, with only specified areas being subject to the rule, continue?

Or should dogs be kept on leads in all parts of the park? The alternative is that people make up their own minds about how well they can control their dogs with the owners of misbehaving dogs being banned?

Let us no by completing the survey form below.

The dog lead rules and fines were introduced after the winter of 2015 saw 30 dog attacks on deer. It has helped reduce the number of incidents but the past few weeks have seen more attacks and pursuits of deer.

In the recent Facebook post, the Bradgate Park Trust said: "Attention dog owners, we’ve had multiple incidents recently where dogs have chased wildlife, resulting in the tragic death of four deer in just the past month!

"A high-speed chase can stress and injure animals, sometimes fatally, especially when they are forced to flee for their lives. Be mindful of wildlife, especially in areas where deer are present.

"Wildlife protection is a shared responsibility. If you're walking or letting your dog run off the lead in the upper area of the Park, please ensure they are kept under control at all times. Thank you for your cooperation."