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The Law regarding dogs in North Eastern Tasmania, Australia
 
The DORSET
COUNCIL in North East Tasmania, Australia has an express and explicit Local Government
ByLaw #2/7 of 1993 for dog "control" which reads:-
"No person shall take, or being the owner or usual
keeper thereof permit or suffer a dog to be taken into or remain in any park, recreation
ground or reserve except:-
a) a guide dog being used by a blind person
b) a dog being on exhibit in or being used to control stock at an occasion or
event permitted by the Corporation."
"Park, Reserve, Recreation Ground shall
mean any area designated as such by a sign at it's main entrance or access depicting the
name of the areas under the words "Dorset Municipality." It shall also include
any foreshore to low water mark whether owned, leased or otherwise vested in the control
of the Corporation."
  
"So, where can I go?"
At present, this effectively means that dogs are not permitted (even in, or on a vehicle)
to frequent any of the above areas in this Municipality. It isn't fair for local rate
payers and dog owners in this rural community to be subsiding these facilities for non
rate payers, and then to be excluded as well.
This has raised a bit of a problem for local and visiting dog owners as to where they may
take their dogs without breaking the law. (Local police late last year exercised their
powers and commenced warning owners they would be booked if they continued to use these
areas and didn't leave.)
Back in 1995 it was put to Dorset Council by one of it's management staff, "... it is
necessary to ensure that the public are provided with necessary avenues for the provision
of regular, unrestrained exercise for their dogs..." and, "... the exercise area
is simply to provide that avenue for unrestrained exercise necessary for a dog's health
and well being..." How come now in the year 2000 this is still not possible?
As a result of Dorset's current ByLaw, responsible dog owners, must go for recreational
holidays or day trips to other destinations where pets are welcome, so imagine the dollars
lost to local businesses and the Municipality as a result of it, with approximately fifty
percent (50%) of households in Tasmania having a dog.
In addition to this problem, there is only one approved dog exercising area in Dorset
which is located at Bridport, some 22Km away from the hub of Scottsdale. This is an
exposed, isolated section of beach (unlike the many sheltered beaches closer to population
) and is not easily assessable to most of the elderly or disabled from this ageing
population's seaside town or anywhere else for that matter. We therefore believe, this
beach is not suitable or safe for small dogs to swim at or these owners to frequent most
of the time.
Where are we at:
We feel the Council now has an obligation to make sure the general public is informed
through the press what the situation is, as what was considered the "norm" for
many years has now changed. This will avoid any later disappointment by people
when they do arrive in the Municipality with their dog/s and are forced to pack up
and leave, or be fined. Sadly, anywhere else they would not be doing anything wrong.
Reliable independent advice was sought by us when some dog owners were being warned and
not others, and the dog control officer has limited allocated time. The advice was,
"... the Council has a duty to administer it's (dog) ByLaws fully, or to
pull it's dogs prohibited signs
down."
We believe it can be shown that the Council has not been very
receptive in the past to responsible dog ownership and to the needs of dogs and their
owners in this Municipality. However, we are also mindful of the fact that the
Council Board is not the same Board now that it was when these decisions were made (even
though some of the Members are still present).
Another request was submitted late last year to Council for allocation of an area for
training and exercising of dogs in Scottsdale.
What's the future:
i) Dog Prohibited areas:-
This is quite a separate issue to the creation of specified dog exercise areas as
mentioned in ii) below.
With regards to the locking up of all parks, reserves, recreation grounds, approximately
130Km of foreshore etc., to dogs in the Dorset Municipality under ByLaw 2/7 ( with noted
few exemptions), it would seem advantageous to the N/E and the rest of Tasmania to
allow dog access to the majority of these areas. We believe the "Dogs Prohibited
" signs should also be changed to reflect this, with Council amending ByLaw 2/7
above. If this is not carried out, then it would only be fair we believe for Council to
display in their promotional material the fact that it is not a dog friendly Municipality
- see example below. Dogs prohibited means dogs prohibited now to the letter of the law,
and if this issue is not addressed we are guaranteed of ongoing problems.
ii) Dog Exercise Areas:-
After months of discussion (and timely release of independent survey figures) it would
seem the future (may) look brighter for our dogs with regards to having an exercise
area approved within the town boundary of Scottsdale following this statement,
"Further, it is the view of the (Council's) management team that the only appropriate
area for allocation as a dog exercise area in Scottsdale is the Ringarooma Road site and
this will be recommended in a report for Council's consideration on 3rd April 2000."
Even though management has stated in the past, "...the relatively long distance and
steep climb both going and coming from the site may well present a barrier for many of the
elderly within the community....,"
All this should have been made better under
the provisions of the new Dog Control Bill 2000 being drafted at present.
Sadly for Tasmania this has not been the case because the wording for the providing of exercise
or training areas still contain the word, "may." One would think in
this day and age it would be mandatory and humane to provide these areas for our animals.
PS. 3 April 2000 : The
Council Board resolved to identify Council-owned land in Ringarooma Road as a dog exercise
area in Scottsdale and to negotiate with the current lessee to gain access to the land. It
is a 6 year lease with 3 year option that has now passed.
16th April 200: Despite a telephone
assurance that a Public Notice for this Exercise Area would appear in the Examiner
Newspaper on the 22nd April 2000......... it didn't
4th May 2000: Lessee has not responded to
letter, so a Council employee was asked today to try and catch up with him with a message
to contact the Council.
20th May 2000: Public
Notice inserted in newspaper.
26th June 2000: Council identified the area
in Ringarooma Road opposite the Council Depot as the designated dog exercise area in
Scottsdale.
17th August 2000: No work has been
undertaken by Council to make this area safe or suitable for dog owners to exercise their
dogs in.
10th March 2001. Nil
We wait........
Thankyou for your interest.
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Site constructed on the 29th March, 2000,
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