By Paul Dunlop
DOGlovers are calling for an offleash pooch park in Pakenham.
They say there is nowhere in town they can exercise their pets unrestricted without breaking the law.
State regulations require all dog owners to keep dogs on a leash when outside their own property.
Owners of dogs left uncontrolled in public areas face hefty fines.
Authorities say the stance is in the interests of community safety. They say many dog attacks could have been prevented had the animals been on a leash.
Pakenham woman Sheree Deane said having an offleash park would mean dog owners, particular those with bigger dogs, could let their pets get the workout they needed without presenting a safety risk to other residents.
“I have been living here for three years and I can’t believe there isn’t an offleash park,” she said.
“So many people have dogs but there is nowhere to take them.
“People worry about dogs being aggressive but that is often because they are not properly socialised.
“Dogs bark because they don’t get enough exercise. If there was a secure and safe place where you could throw a ball and let the dog play with other dogs it will wear itself out and won’t be any trouble.”
Local resident Lillian Keogh said she would love to see an offleash park in the town. She said the facility would be well used.
Ms Deane takes her sixmonthold Staffordshire bull terrier Dozer into metropolitan Melbourne where she said there were plenty of poochfriendly parks.
“We went to a park at Brighton and he had a ball. It wouldn’t take a lot to build one, just a fenced off area in an existing park that’s not used much.”
Cardinia Shire manager of governance and communications Doug Evans said the council had some years ago considered creating designated offleash areas but had not pursued the initiative.
The main problem was finding an appropriate location, he said.
“The area needs to be effectively fenced, it needs to be out of the way yet accessible and you need to make sure it is not in close proximity to a school and there needs to be dog toilets.
“Finding shireowned land that meets all the criteria is not an easy task and council found at the time that there was not a huge demand for those areas.
“But if the demand grows as Pakenham and the surrounding area grows then council would certainly look at it,” Mr Evans said.
Mayor Bill Ronald said council had to be mindful of its public liability. He said the park was a good idea but easier said than done.
Council was concerned about the growing number of dog attacks on people, Cr Ronald said.
Ms Deane said something needed to happen. She said she was considering starting a petition.
What’s your view? Email the Gazette at editorstarnewsgroup.com.au or phone 5945 0666.
