Dear sir,
I've just seen your advert on TV, the one with the dog running ahead of its handler. I note that the dog is off leash, which is against the law, except in a designated off leash area. I wouldn't want to think that you either broke the law in filming the advert, or endorse this noxious middle class habit of ignoring dog laws, to the endangerment and discomfort of many children and elderly.
If you did break the law, I suggest that you forward the fine to the Office of State Revenue. It is $1100 for having a dog off a leash in public.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
No more Mr. Nice Guy
Thank you for your leaflet [for local council elections] which I received at the station this morning (was it you handing them out? if so, great to see you).
I appreciate your concern that playing fields are well maintained for our children.
However, no matter how well maintained they are, I have encountered problems using them with my young children. At a number of local playing fields I have seen my children chased and intimidated by dogs illegaly exercised by their owners off leash. The owners will disarmingly assure me that their dog is 'kind', or 'safe' or 'good with children', but try reassuring a 5 year old with a dog its size charging at it at twice the speed the child can run. Try convincing your child that the dog is OK, even though the owner is breaking the law, but blaming their father (me) for being 'anti-dog'.
Indeed, I was assaulted by a crazed dog owner while trying to protect one of my children from his charging dog!
The extent of this problem is that I can no longer take my kids to play soccer in a public park, they are wary of even playing in our front garden or crossing the footpath because of the number of off leash dogs in the company of grinning and arrogant owners. My daughter was about to post a letter at the Princes St post box, but wouldn't leave the car because of a cattle dog prancing around the foot path off leash.
Council needs to actively enforce the Companion Animals Act, prosecute rather than warn, and actively promote the provisions of the act, the penalties applying and the actions that people can take against dogs under it.
I would like to see council put signs at parks and on popular dog walking roads to the effect that dogs must be leashed, or a $1100 fine applies, that anyone can sieze, injure or destroy a dog that rushes at someone. And not the 'official' signs in tiny print that no one reads, but proper advertising type signs that attract attention.
I would like to see posters at all vet surgeries and pet shops, and any shop that sells dog food to this effect. All dog owners upon being licensed should be given a leaflet detailing their responsibilities and the penalties that apply, about which they should be reminded at license renewal, and rangers should actively patrol parks at children's sporting events to issue penalty notices. They would make a killing any Saturday morning.
Council could also issue such notices with rate notices from time to time, and remind dog owners of the seriousness with which Council takes illegal activity related to dogs, illustrated with a high rate of prosecution.
The time for 'Mr Nice Guy' is over. Its time to see people in court
I appreciate your concern that playing fields are well maintained for our children.
However, no matter how well maintained they are, I have encountered problems using them with my young children. At a number of local playing fields I have seen my children chased and intimidated by dogs illegaly exercised by their owners off leash. The owners will disarmingly assure me that their dog is 'kind', or 'safe' or 'good with children', but try reassuring a 5 year old with a dog its size charging at it at twice the speed the child can run. Try convincing your child that the dog is OK, even though the owner is breaking the law, but blaming their father (me) for being 'anti-dog'.
Indeed, I was assaulted by a crazed dog owner while trying to protect one of my children from his charging dog!
The extent of this problem is that I can no longer take my kids to play soccer in a public park, they are wary of even playing in our front garden or crossing the footpath because of the number of off leash dogs in the company of grinning and arrogant owners. My daughter was about to post a letter at the Princes St post box, but wouldn't leave the car because of a cattle dog prancing around the foot path off leash.
Council needs to actively enforce the Companion Animals Act, prosecute rather than warn, and actively promote the provisions of the act, the penalties applying and the actions that people can take against dogs under it.
I would like to see council put signs at parks and on popular dog walking roads to the effect that dogs must be leashed, or a $1100 fine applies, that anyone can sieze, injure or destroy a dog that rushes at someone. And not the 'official' signs in tiny print that no one reads, but proper advertising type signs that attract attention.
I would like to see posters at all vet surgeries and pet shops, and any shop that sells dog food to this effect. All dog owners upon being licensed should be given a leaflet detailing their responsibilities and the penalties that apply, about which they should be reminded at license renewal, and rangers should actively patrol parks at children's sporting events to issue penalty notices. They would make a killing any Saturday morning.
Council could also issue such notices with rate notices from time to time, and remind dog owners of the seriousness with which Council takes illegal activity related to dogs, illustrated with a high rate of prosecution.
The time for 'Mr Nice Guy' is over. Its time to see people in court
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