By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA residents have expressed shock this week after it was revealed there are only three Noosa Council local laws officers patrolling the shire to stamp out dog-related issues.
The three officers have quite a job on their hands, with reports of dog attacks from Kin Kin to Sunshine Beach and all towns in between.
Responsible dog owners are calling on council to start dishing out hefty fines in a bid to remind dog owners to play by the rules.
Dog attack victim Richard Jackson had previously suspected council was biting off a little more than they could chew.
“It seems like there’s never a ranger (local law officer) around to enforce the dog rules at restricted on-leash dog areas and in particular beach access points,” he said.
Tewantin resident Sylvia Hebron said she was traumatised by a dog attack near Heritage Park several years ago.
“The park has a dog off the leash area which we always felt should be fenced,” she said.
Mrs Hebron said she was walking her daughter’s dog towards the Tewantin Park when she was confronted by two American Bulldogs.
“It was traumatic for me as well as the poor small dog receiving extensive injuries and spending a week in the Animal Hospital incurring huge expense, which the owners of the American Bulldogs were ordered to pay by a magistrate,” she said.
“At the time we felt the dogs should have been destroyed. I was knocked to the ground and was bitten. What if it had been a small child, thankfully my grandchildren were not with me that day.”
Mrs Hebron said the owners of the Bulldogs pleaded with the magistrate for a payment plan. She said they later avoided paying the total after they moved interstate.
“Several attacks have occurred in Heritage Park and I, along with other dog walkers who live in the area adjacent to the park, prefer to keep away from the park and away from irresponsible dog owners,” she said.
Noosa Council’s Disaster Management and Public Order Manager, Ron Thomas, said council’s three local laws officers responded to all local law matters.
“This includes monitoring and issuing infringements for breaches of the local laws and Animal Management Act,” he said.
Mr Thomas said staffing levels had been determined this year, but council was preparing a review of service levels in the coming months.
“While staffing levels have been determined for this year, a review of the local laws and parking management will be conducted in coming months to examine current levels of service and determine the appropriate levels of service that council will deliver to our community into the future,” he said.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Should Noosa Council appoint more local law officers to clamp down on dog owners who refuse to play by the dog rules?
