The BBC reported today that a south London borough adopted a new law that limits the number of dogs people can walk simultaneously through city parks.

From July, anyone exercising four to eight animals will need to apply for a special licence.

There will also be rules about walkers congregating together and creating a "super pack" of dogs.

The town council said it's not the professional dog walkers they're concerned about. It's the dog owners and the unlicensed professionals they're targeting. They let the dogs off their leads, congregate with other dog walkers, and take their eyes off the dogs.

Perhaps it's a good thing that there are more dogs getting their exercise these days; we don't want to discourage people from doing so. If you take away "congregation", that gives people less of an incentive to walk their dogs.

Instead of enacting dog walking laws, cities need to create more dog parks.

Instead of cities trying to micromanage their citizens, create solutions that still encourage them to take their dogs out, allow them to socialize with other dog walkers, yet keep the dogs confined.

Dog parks, that's the answer.