Article In Our Local Newspaper

[Pockets]

I expect my dogs to alert me at people and other dogs walking past, thats what dogs do If they are behind a secure fence I dont see the issue.

Coucil wont be able to enforce the issue anyway, it would be very hard for them to take the matter through a magistrates court if it got that far, me think a judge would think "over reaction a tad"

IMO no one can tell you you have to keep your dog in a certain part of your Backyard (unless it has already been declared a dangerous dog previously).

Hmmmmmmmmm maybe I could have fined the idiot kids or the school that used to walk past everyday and kick my fence to stir up my dog

[Erny]

Pockets - I wouldn't be too "rest assured" about that. Thing is, if they bring it in as a law (and they do bring in some stupid laws that never cease to surprise), it won't matter what the Magistrate thinks or feels on the matter. If it is written then a person will either be found guilty for breach of the law, or not.

Also, many people will cop fines simply because they can't afford to fight the matter in Court.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Erny

[SpikesPuppy]

Pockets - I wouldn't be too "rest assured" about that. Thing is, if they bring it in as a law (and they do bring in some stupid laws that never cease to surprise), it won't matter what the Magistrate thinks or feels on the matter. If it is written then a person will either be found guilty for breach of the law, or not.

Also, many people will cop fines simply because they can't afford to fight the matter in Court.

Agree with this.

It sounds like it could be an on-the-spot type of fine, too which would mean that a council officer walking by gets barked at and wham! There you go

I wish I were into goldfish & not dogs

[Erny]

It sounds like it could be an on-the-spot type of fine, too which would mean that a council officer walking by gets barked at and wham! There you go

Yep - what a great revenue grabber. "Money, money, money ..... in a rich man's world ..."

I wish I were into goldfish & not dogs

Well, I wish the authorities would climb out of their gold fish bowl and get more dog-wise ............... and start targetting the REALLY irresponsible people, rather than just lay down paving on the 'easy street'.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Erny

[Kelly_Louise]

Yes, I believe that it is going way too far. Soon we will be trying to breed the essence of what a dog is out of dogs - to make the public feel better.

A dog is a dog. If it is properly contained, sorry but there is no reason it can't bark and defend it's territory (unless it is an habitually nuisance barker). That's what dogs do. If they AREN'T contained properly - different story. If they are unsupervised out the front - again, different story.

Many people have dogs to protect their property and feel safe against the exact same public that we are trying to protect from being afraid of barking dogs.

If a dog can't be a dog, to a certain extent - what next? Just ban dogs altogether?

[poochmad]

While I'm not a fan of dogs barking at front fences, I wouldn't complain about it. Sometimes if the fence is low and the dog looks like it could step over it and is acting menacing, my heart will be in my mouth. If the fence is secure and the dogs are just barking, I'm not too fussed. Although, if there is a lot of traffic, then it could be annoying for the neighbours - but that's a noise complaint not an agression complaint.

[poochmad]

dogs bark

cats purr

bird tweet

councils come up with dumb rules

[SpikesPuppy]

It sounds like it could be an on-the-spot type of fine, too which would mean that a council officer walking by gets barked at and wham! There you go

Yep - what a great revenue grabber. "Money, money, money ..... in a rich man's world ..."

I wish I were into goldfish & not dogs

Well, I wish the authorities would climb out of their gold fish bowl and get more dog-wise ............... and start targetting the REALLY irresponsible people, rather than just lay down paving on the 'easy street'.

Oh I agree wholeheartedly just having one of those days where it all seems too much LOL.

[poochmad]

Instead of worrying about the dogs behind secure fencing, why don't they worry about the dogs roaming free? It is ludicrious that the people doing the right thing, i.e. having their dogs behind fencing, are being targeted.

[Pockets]

Pockets - I wouldn't be too "rest assured" about that. Thing is, if they bring it in as a law (and they do bring in some stupid laws that never cease to surprise), it won't matter what the Magistrate thinks or feels on the matter. If it is written then a person will either be found guilty for breach of the law, or not.

Also, many people will cop fines simply because they can't afford to fight the matter in Court.

Actually it does matter what the magistrate feels on the matter, hence why people take things to court, if they think the situation has been too harshly dealt with for what it is. In saying this I am talking about a dog simply barking behind a secure fence

[Kelly_Louise]

Instead of worrying about the dogs behind secure fencing, why don't they worry about the dogs roaming free? It is ludicrious that the people doing the right thing, i.e. having their dogs behind fencing, are being targeted.

Totally agree. Seems being responsible isn't good enough, you must also only own a dog that doesn't react to anything either, doesn't make a sound, doesn't act like a dog. x 2

[cointreau]

Front fences were the norm years ago and kids and their dogs could play in the front yard safely, now many kids play on the streets and dogs roam (there are exceptions). When I bought my house my first priority was to have a front fence put up so my dog can go outside and see what is going on and help me garden etc the fence waas also for my dogs safety so she couldn't rush out the front door into passing traffic. Yes she has barked at some dogs walking past but generally once she meets the dog they can walk past without any problems, when I am at home two small dogs walk with their owners visit to have a play session through the fence, that socialising wouldn't have happened if I didn't let my dog out in the front yard. For the dogs safety they shouldn't be left out the front all day wehn you are at work, kids teasing the dog, branding it dangerous because they put their hand through the fence after teasing a dog or worse throw unsafe food etc to your dog to eat.

When walking I would much rather have dogs rushing to the fence barking etc than meet the same dogs roaming on the street. The council needs to get it's priorities right and concentrate on the important issues rather than try to punish people who give their dogs access to their front yards.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Very viscious cavalier in the pic in the article. ;)