Pooch poop plan unleashed

AFTER widespread community consultation, Knox City Council has come up with a plan it hopes will resolve questions relating to responsible dog ownership.
Outgoing Knox mayor Jenny Moore said it was important that dogs could exercise in the municipality’s parks and reserves but equally important that dogs did not worry, chase or threaten people.
“We have undertaken extensive consultation with dog owners and people who do not own dogs in Knox,” Cr Moore said last week.
“The community has indicated that dogs should be on a lead while on footpaths, in shopping centres, car parks, bike tracks, walking tracks and conservation bushland areas.”
The council has arrived at its current conclusion after 4000 surveys were randomly distributed in Knox, half to dog owners and half to people without dogs.
A total of 1344 completed surveys were returned and used in the analysis – 862 or 61 per cent came from dog owners and 482 or 39 per cent came from non dog owners.
The council also received 231 website survey responses and face-to-face surveys, 31 written survey responses, and four voice mail responses.
The council says the major concern raised by the community centred around educating owners to act responsibly when walking their dogs, rather than requiring dogs to remain on lead all the time.
Another key message was the need to improve community behaviour in terms of dog litter, and this will be a focus for the council in the future.
Under the revised regulations that will come into effect on Friday, 10 February 2006, dogs will be allowed off lead in the majority of open space parks and reserves with certain provisions.
These include dog owners carrying a chain, cord or leash sufficient to restrain the dog should it behave in a threatening manner, and dogs remaining within effective voice or hand control distance of the owner at all times.
Furthermore, a person in charge of the dog must not allow the dog to worry, chase or threaten another person or animal.
In all public places where dogs are not allowed off the lead, owners are required to observe the rule.
The council will conduct programs to educate the community on how to be a responsible dog owner from next February, when registrations take place.
“The council wants people to feel safe and comfortable using our public spaces,” Cr Moore said.
For more information on the management and control of dogs in public spaces, visit Knox’s website at www.knox.vic.gov.au or phone 9298 8000.