The number of biting incidents involving dogs in Bloemendaal has increased significantly in the past year. Mayor Elbert Roest has now received ten reports of biting dogs, which is more than in previous years. “This can have a huge impact on the neighborhood where an incident took place,” says Roest. As a result of these biting incidents, the mayor is introducing a new policy.
Mayor Roest sees an increase not only in Bloemendaal, but also in other municipalities. He says the cause remains a mystery. “Maybe it is because people took dogs in corona time and actually had too little time to raise them properly. Or that there were no options during that period. But we see that the number of biting incidents is quite large.”
Text continues below the video.
Dog owners understand that a new policy has been adopted, but are curious about its implementation. – NH News
It can be dogs that bite each other and a dog is seriously injured, but Roest has also had a report of a cat that has been bitten to death by a dog and even a situation with a child. “We have experienced a child being attacked by a dog. This creates unrest in the neighborhood and at school where parents talk about it. And then the mayor comes into the picture.”
New policy
Mayor Roest previously had the authority to intervene, but this was not stated in black and white. This sometimes made it difficult for him to explain to the citizen why he had taken a measure such as imposing a leash obligation. That is why, on his initiative, a new policy has now been adopted to provide clarity to citizens. “By writing it down, citizens can see how the mayor is reasoning and then make a decision.”
“I am confronted with situations that are really serious and have a major social impact. Then you have to take measures.”
Dog owners generally understand that a mayor should be able to intervene if a dog exhibits behavior that is really annoying or even dangerous. However, some also fear that the mayor will impose a measure that will have a major impact on the dog, after the dog may have gone wrong once.
Mayor Roest wants to emphasize that he will not just take a measure. “That is very well thought out. You start by giving a warning, then you start a conversation and see what is going on. But yes, I am also confronted with situations that are really serious and have a major social impact. Then you have to take measures.”
The measures varying from being on a leash, wearing a muzzle and in very serious cases confiscation of the dog. The mayor is always advised by the police and experts in making his decision.
The new policy has also been adopted for the surrounding municipalities of Zandvoort, Haarlem and Heemstede.
This is a message from the joint news editors