Waimea Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
Wednesday 19 October 2022
Dog owners slammed in Wakefield JO KENT Irresponsible dog owners in Wakefield are being called out by locals after roaming dogs have left some too afraid to walk their own pets in the area. Unsupervised dogs freely wander from ‘gated’ properties, owners are walking dogs off leash and others are happy to just allow their dogs to run amuck. Shannen Wagstaff, from Pigeon Valley, says she is so nervous
of walking her 58kg Rottweiler cross, Niko, that she’s now had to change their route. “We live opposite McGazzaland where so many people walk their dogs off leash and let them run up to other dogs.” A bad experience has left Niko very protective of Shannen and her daughter after a near-fatal dog attack on a beach. “He’s been left very protective of us after a rescue pitball cross went for my two-year-old daugh-
ter. If it wasn’t for Niko, she could have died. “So, when other dogs come running up to him, it’s a trigger. People think that as their dogs are friendly it’s OK, but not everyone’s dog likes it.” Niko is always walked on the leash despite being trained to walk off leash as she says that’s the responsible thing to do. “If another dog runs up and growls or barks, it puts him on edge. If something were to hap-
pen, I’m terrified he would be branded dangerous because of his breed and that’s just not right.” Many other dog walkers have had similar experiences with unsupervised dogs bolting from properties across busy roads to provoke their animals. Owner to four dogs, Brittany Jacobsen, says it happened to her on Whitby Road. “Two dogs ran out in front of a car to get to my dogs, who were all on leashes. One even tried to
grab my St Bernard by the throat. They are so aggressive, and it’s happened more than once.” As a result, she’s had to change where she walks her dogs. “It’s actually quite scary walking your dog around Wakefield. Gone are the days where we had a lot of responsible owners, who always had their dogs under control and behind fences with gates closed. I’ve rung the council to
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Street Stocks 77c Corey Schumacher awaits a hand while 59n Doug Corbett is towed off the track. Photo: Rebecca Conor Maling.
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