Free
weekender WHO LET THE DOGS IN?
the western
EMILY CHATE
P
enrith dog owners are barking up the wrong tree when they allow their big dogs into the small dog enclosure at Jamison Dog Park. Local mum Kerry Smith has made a habit of taking her newborn daughter and fouryear-old pup Chase to the small dog area of Jamison Park after dropping her son off at school. But she says there’s a number of issues emerging at the popular dog park that are making owners of smaller dogs in particular feel worried. “A lot of big dogs are coming into this area and they’re becoming aggressive, and the owners aren’t doing anything,” Smith said. “If the owners had more control over their dog, then that would create boundaries and potentially stop the dogs from behaving that way but that’s not happening.” Smith explained that some dog owners have approached Penrith Council with their concerns. “Quite a number of people have mentioned it to council hoping to get them to regulate the situation and create signage to make it known what’s actually acceptable in these different areas…” she said. “The common response is we can put signs up and ask people to do the right thing, but we can’t police them, they have to choose to do it.” Three weeks ago, as Smith was approaching the dog park, she was confronted by an off-leash dog.
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“I figured the owner had more control over the dog than what he obviously did,” Smith explained. “Initially, the dog came up and interacted with Chase but then he started becoming a bit more aggressive and Chase freaked out, yelped and tried to run off. “I was trying to pick him up, but he was on the lead which is connected to the pram for convenience. Once I had a hold of Chase, the bigger dog came around and started looking at my daughter, who at the time was three-weeks-old… I just kept hold of my dog and stood in front of the pram to protect my daughter.” The dog’s owner collected their animal and said sorry before walking off. “I was too upset to really do much else but thankfully a bystander had witnessed the whole thing and came over to check on me, my daughter and the dog,” Smith said. “They also spoke to the owner of the other dog as well and said that’s really unreasonable and they shouldn’t have them off the lead in the first place because you might know your dog at home but you never know them out and about… there’s just too many variables that can just create a different situation.” A spokesperson for Penrith Council confirmed that dogs must be on their leash unless in a designated off leash area. “Dogs are only permitted off leash within the boundaries of a designated off–leash areas,” they said.
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“Upon leaving that area, dogs must be immediately restrained on a lead and kept under control in accordance with the requirements of the Companion Animals Act, 1998.” Council said compliance of the dog park rules fell in the lap of pet owners. “Separate areas for small and large dogs within (some) off–leash locations is supported through guide signage with compliance reliant on responsible pet ownership,” the spokesperson said.
Kerry Smith and her dog Chase at the small dog area of Jamison Park. Photo: Melinda Jane.
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