Going to the dogs?!
22 June 2009
The following (unsigned) letter has just been received by the Progress Association:
"Dear President,
I was wondering if something could be done with the following issues?
I have to walk a lot with strict instructions from my General Practitioner. I have found lately that it is becoming more difficult because of the dog situation.
There are dogs off leashes in the showground and polo grounds (one started to attack but was called off at the last minute by it's owners), and on the top of Victoria Street a red kelpie was ready to tear me apart so I could not walk in bush land along the hillside and had to retire very quickly.
I know there are lots of owners who are very good and keep them in their yards and on a leash. I moved to Hall for lifestyle so understand there will be dogs in the village, but not to the extent that we can't go walking.
Is there anything that can be done?
I know that I sound like a complainer but it is also very difficult when I have my grandchild with me having the fear that she might be attacked.
Why can't the dogs be kept on a leash and how do we stop 'city' residents from spoiling our lovely village by using the show grounds and polocross grounds? Don't mind them using the grounds if they keep the dogs on a leash.
By the way it doesn't sound like it but I am a dog lover, except mine are on the farm at the moment.
Looking forward to some reprieve.
Regards,
Hall resident."
My personal view is that it is a matter of serious concern that anyone should feel threatened by free roaming dogs while walking around the village. As I also walk around the village a fair bit, I know from my own recent experience that right now we have a number of dogs causing trouble of this sort. (I might add the matter of dogs barking in the street in the small hours of the morning).
This letter is printed in full in the hope that owners of any aggressive free-roaming dogs will take appropriate steps - recognising that this a problem arising from only a small minority of dogs in the village.
Alastair Crombie
VHDPA President
Andrew Purdam has very kindly sent the following additional information:
There are parts of the village that are "off-leash" areas, but that doesn't mean "not in control", so the dog still needs supervision from their controller.
Rather than describe them, as part of Hall Vet Surgery's website I made maps of the dog off-leash areas.
Andrew says that this map originates with the the Department of Terrotory and Municipal Services. Their website says:
In general, in public, dogs must always be walked on-lead;
Dogs may only be exercised off-leash, under the control of a competent person, in designated dog exercise areas;
Dogs must always be walked on-lead on cycle paths even if the cycle path is in a dog exercise area;
Maps that show the location of dog exercise areas are available from Canberra Connect Shopfronts, ACT Libraries and Domestic Animal Services;
Dogs must not be taken into dogs prohibited areas, however, dogs may be walked on lead, on cycle paths, through dogs prohibited areas.
[NOTE: Photo sourced from the WWW]