While Lake Macquarie residents have welcomed the council’s new Dogs in Open Space Plan, they have warned that effective implementation is key to ensuring beneficial outcomes for park users and their canine companions.
Last month, Lake Macquarie City announced the launch of its Dogs in Open Space Strategy after new figures revealed canine companionship had soared across the city since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Section Manager Community Assets Brendan Callander said the number of dogs registered in Lake Macquarie had risen by more than 10,000 since 2018.
“We’re now home to more than 93,000 registered dogs – the second-highest number of any local government area in NSW,” Callander said.
“Growing numbers coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing urban density and smaller backyards have led to a surge in demand for open spaces where people can exercise and socialise their dogs.”
While the Dogs in Open Space Plan addresses the provision of on-leash and off-leash areas, fenced parks, and greater community education on ownership, some locals believe that education is the priority in ensuring the plan meets its objective in delivering safer facilities for pets.
TJ Melrose from Doggie Dates NSW Ltd expressed concerns about the current lack of responsibility by some dog owners not only in Lake Macquarie but Newcastle, Central Coast and surrounding areas.
Doggie Dates NSW Ltd is a social walking group comprised of dog owners, and Melrose said one of the reasons it had become so successful was due to residents being too anxious to walk their pets alone.
“There are members of the community who believe their ‘well behaved’ dogs are exempt from on leash regulations and the other aspects of dog ownership,” Melrose said.
“This creates fear and distress, especially from our older locals who are too afraid to walk their dogs due to the risk of attack from roaming dogs.
“People are under the illusion that because their dog is friendly, it is fine to approach on-leash dogs, many dogs will react to this, and it is not usual for dogs to have anxiety.
“There needs to be further education in this area.”
Former Lake Macquarie local Margeret Keast from Jigsaw Dogs has a Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training and supports calls for council-funded education.
“As a professional dog trainer, I often get clients who have had issues with off-leash dogs attacking on-leash dogs and have to deal with the fallout,” Keast said.
She said severe injuries, anxiety, and mental traumas for the dog and owner were among the consequences of off-leash dog attacks.
“Owner education is key and involves understanding what their dog’s own play style is and understanding if their dog is becoming a nuisance to other dogs,” Keast said.
“I’d like to see council become more proactive in owner education, whether its signposts, handouts or educational seminars where people can learn.”
Keast cited recent initiatives by Charles Sturt Council in the ACT, which has engaged a specialist in dog park design to improve dog areas, as well as a patrol unit that includes a behavioural trainer to engage with owners positively.
“Rather than handing out fines, educate local owners effectively,” she suggested.
Keast also said space design was critical to ensuring the safety of park users.
“Even simple park design can represent issues – if there’s a poor design like lots of open space and no visual blocks like hillocks or shrubs for frightened dogs to hide, it makes it difficult and encourages targeting behaviour in dogs.”
At the moment, there are 29 off-leash areas at beaches, parks and reserves throughout the city.
Council is seeking public input to develop the strategy and understand how dog off-leash areas should be used.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser welcomed feedback from both dog and non-dog owners to determine what was best for the area.
“The strategy will aim to provide safe and inviting spaces for dogs and owners while balancing the recreational needs of the wider community,” Cr Fraser said.
“Companion animals are an important part of their family’s lives, and we need to provide facilities for them to be exercised freely where possible, practical and safe to do so.”
However, local woman Kerrie Maree is not convinced that additional breed inclusive spaces will be sufficient in ensuring dog safety after experiencing first-hand the dangers of dog intermingling.
Maree, who lives with a disability, was with her 5-year-old grandson and carer at Speers Point Dog Park when her 3kg Moodle was crowded by five larger breeds, and the rough play resulted in a puncture wound to her dog’s chest and a $425 vet bill.
“Smaller dogs shouldn’t be with larger dogs,” she said.
Maree has lobbied the council for the past six months for segregated dog parks, and while Lake Macquarie City’s Deputy Mayor Jason Pauling has voiced his support for the cause, her latest request remains before the council.
“If council continues to ignore and reject requests to install separate areas, and a little dog is maimed or mauled, or a person is injured, how liable are they?” she asked.
Under the NSW Companion Animals Legislation, it is a fineable offence to have dogs off-leash in public places and not under effective control.
Residents can expect fines of up to $1100 for non-compliance.
Council has urged locals to report incidents to their Customer Service team, so officers can be dispatched to investigate issues when possible.
Lake Macquarie City assured that any feedback received would be coupled with analysis and best practice research to develop a draft framework for the Dogs in Open Space Strategy.
Maia O’Connor