By JOLENE OGLE
A LOCAL man has called on Noosa Council to increase patrols of the Sunshine Beach dog beach as a way to tackle vicious dog attacks.
Marcus Beach man Richard Jackson said his Chinese Shar Pei Sandy was at the off-leash dog area in June last year when she was attacked by a German Pointer.
At the time, Mr Jackson said the attack was “an absolute nightmare” and when he tried to separate the two dogs, he was bitten.
“I realise it was likely the Pointer did not mean to bite me, as I attempted to intervene, but I couldn’t stand there as Sandy was being savagely attacked,” Mr Jackson said in an earlier interview with Noosa Today.
The attack left Sandy traumatised with severe injuries to her neck and a deep laceration to Mr Jackson’s leg.
But, since reading about the proposed changes to the Subordinate Local Laws that would see the Sunshine Beach off-leash area become on-leash only and extended an extra 400 metres, Mr Jackson said it was “irresponsible owners” that were the problem.
“I see so many people walking their dogs off the leash on the way to the beach,” he said.
“No one is monitoring the beaches. I’ve only seen the ranger once in all the times I’ve walked Sandy on the beach.”
Although Mr Jackson said he no longer walked Sandy on the off-leash dog beach due to the trauma of the attack, he said turning the area into an on-leash area is cruel to dogs.
“It’s not right to turn the area into an on-leash area,” he said.
“What we need is a bigger presence from council officers patrolling the beaches and making sure people are being responsible pet owners.”
Submissions for the proposed Subordinate Local Laws close on 20 March. Anyone who would like to make a submission can email mail@noosa.qld.gov.au or join the online forum at www.yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au.
A copy of the proposed Subordinate Local Laws is available from council chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin.
