Why Is Aus Becoming So Non Dog Friendly

[Keira&Phoenix]

I grew up in the 60s and also remember dogs being everywhere, even at school, and no problems re fights or attacks, we had many purebreds, they were more the norm where I was than crossbred dogs.

I've been checking out wildlife sanctuaries and national parks OS (as I want to visit some) and many have kennels available to place your dogs while you visit! and also stipulate how dangerous it is to leave your dog in a car etc.

With our long distances here I think aust should have this service available too. I know many people who go round aust, and hit trouble when they wish to see Kakadu and many other places, they either cannot go, or have to board their dog/s a few hundred ks away while they visit the park, then go back and pick dogs up etc. many just dont go at all.

recently friends here went to a beach near Bundaberg that is ok for dogs, but you have to drive through a 'national park' area, they had dogs in the car (yes, not allowed I know) and when they got to the beach, they and many others were fined for having dogs there, no signs etc. anywhere. told you can only take dogs if you have a boat. how silly. fined $400 for each dog!

re cafes, we had one for several years, always had dogs and fed them and watered them. fine with council and health dept. BUT, there are regs here in QLD (and I think elsewhere) that state this is not allowed. it is up to very LOCAL authorities what you can or cannot do, and they CAN fine you, change their miind etc. anytime.

We even had PR pics done with our dogs inside the cafe , all over the paper, nothing said.that does not mean it's 'allowed' though.

Really?? Are you not allowed to drive through a national park with the dog in the car? I thought so long as they stayed in the car and didn't get out to toilet etc it was ok?

You would think so considering a) they are in a car which is your property and b) they are not stepping on national park land

What if your doing a cross country trip and you have to drive through National Park?

I would like to know the rules for this because I would eventually like to do a trip up Cape York (camping) and would want to take my dogs too.

[dee lee]

(dogs at cafes)

violating many council rulings and health codes

I've done extensive internet searches about this and all I could find is that "animals are not allowed in food preparation areas". So a dog sitting in the eating area - is not breaking this rule. And in fact, guide dogs (for blind people) are not allowed to be refused. And I think the rules are beginning to include disability help dogs besides just dogs that assist blind people.

Same with hotels. While a hotel might choose to ban dogs, it isn't for "health reasons".

Really, we're much more likely to get "health problems" from other humans than our dogs.

I couldn't agree more. Yet I did see a news story last year about certain councils fining Sidewalk Cafes despite those Cafes trying to be "dog friendly". It was on ACA so who knows.

Perhaps it was "Local Council Bylaws???"

I remember reading about Mosman council enforcing the no dogs within x metres regulations.

After a local uproar about it they backed down.

City of Sydney council is known to be pretty dog friendly. Clover Moore, the mayor of Sydney, is a passionate dog lover who has done much for making Sydney more dog friendly.

Presumably why my local cafes & pubs have no issues with letting people sit outside with their dogs.

[Monah]

Keira, I'd have to look up the regulations too, but I know they were fined (as were everyone else on the beach who had a dog) simply because to get there, the rangers knew they had to drive through the national park (I think it was near on on woodgate) and even though they were not even seen doing it etc. and the dogs were in the car the whole time, they did not stop, they HAD the dogs in the national park, so fined. the beach was not national park, just the road to get to it was partly in one.

I realise that of course you really cant have dogs in a national park at all, but I think they should use common sense and they should have had a warning first.. I think it was on australia day, so lots of people out having a BBQ etc. Ruined it for many people.

[LizT]

Keira, I'd have to look up the regulations too, but I know they were fined (as were everyone else on the beach who had a dog) simply because to get there, the rangers knew they had to drive through the national park (I think it was near on on woodgate) and even though they were not even seen doing it etc. and the dogs were in the car the whole time, they did not stop, they HAD the dogs in the national park, so fined. the beach was not national park, just the road to get to it was partly in one.

I realise that of course you really cant have dogs in a national park at all, but I think they should use common sense and they should have had a warning first.. I think it was on australia day, so lots of people out having a BBQ etc. Ruined it for many people.

I'm pretty sure ALL National Parks have a sign outside that reads:

"No Firearms"

"No Dogs"

"No Cats"

I was travelling home from a Dog Show in Lancefield along the Calder Hwy and wanted to show my daughter the "Organ Pipes" but couldn't drive in because I had dogs with me.

[gwenneth1]

Keira, I'd have to look up the regulations too, but I know they were fined (as were everyone else on the beach who had a dog) simply because to get there, the rangers knew they had to drive through the national park (I think it was near on on woodgate) and even though they were not even seen doing it etc. and the dogs were in the car the whole time, they did not stop, they HAD the dogs in the national park, so fined. the beach was not national park, just the road to get to it was partly in one.

I realise that of course you really cant have dogs in a national park at all, but I think they should use common sense and they should have had a warning first.. I think it was on australia day, so lots of people out having a BBQ etc. Ruined it for many people.

I was told by a guy I know who sails around Australia, that he was fined in southern nsw marine park waters because he had a jr on board within those waters.

[Keira&Phoenix]

Yeah but the roads are public roads so as such you should be allowed to have them. I looked it up and saw that Wa, Vic and Nsw it is fine to drive through. Might call and ask. Seems dumb because lots of public roads to certain places (not national park) are through Nat Park.

Edited March 11, 2011 by Keira&Phoenix

[LizT]

Yeah but the roads are public roads so as such you should be allowed to have them. I looked it up and saw that Wa, Vic and Nsw it is fine to drive through. Might call and ask. Seems dumb because lots of public roads to certain places (not national park) are through Nat Park.

I guess if the road is the only entrance to the park and it's clearly signed No Dogs then there's no excuse. Such as in the case of the National Park at Loch Sport on the Gippsland Lakes. Our dogs used to play on the lake literally metres from where the park began but if we went to Spermwhale head for a drive through the park the dogs stayed at the house.

[SpotTheDog]

Had this brought home to me at the weekend - hubby snapped the leash on the hound on Sunday morning and took him for a walk (I'm the dogwalker, hubby works away and nearly never walks the dog so I thought it was kinda cool).

Way back he walks into the servo for the Sunday paper and a can of softdrink. He didn't want to tether him outside so he brought him into the servo shop with him.

They told him he couldn't have the dog in there. He put the paper and the drink on the counter and said 'Okay I'll just buy these and then we'll go'. They wanted him to get out first and then come back in to be served. Thankfully common sense prevailed and they allowed him purchase the two items and clear off out, but still.

[Mystiqview]

As an Animal Management Officer with a local council:

Yards are getting smaller. You look at these new housing estates and the back yard could now be termed as a "court yard".

Some yards would not even fit in a swing set or trampoline for a child. You may have a 600 sq block with a 550 sq house covering that block.

The only real dog that most people think of is small white yappers or similar.

People tend to work longer hours, so the dogs are left at home alone longer. They bark and bark and neighbours complain.

As people work longer hours, they spend less time training their dogs to be polite members of society. So when they do go out in public, they are seen as a menace due to bad manners. This sets people's perception (for right or wrong).

For others, dogs are not kept under effective control, they get out of yards and roam and cause nuisance. For those dogs that do go out to off lead parks etc, there are fights and other issues because the owners think they can take the dog to the park and let it off and don't think about picking up the poo or keeping an eye on the dog wanting to go around humping others in the park or chasing down some one's small dog. Again public perception is set.

People tend to live in a throw away society. Unfortunately, this extends to our pets. While generally speaking, most are responsible. There are a good amount in some income deficient areas who are not. Roaming dogs and cats and unwanted litters.

[john.davey.1960]

Politicians are using dogs as a form of social control. It started by restricting one breed, now includes five and will eventually grow as it has done in Europe. Using stereotypes means they don't have to come up with a valid reason.