Sydney Australia Abuse of Power by Local Council
Rangers are off the leash and sneaking up with dogmatic $330 fines
DOG-OWNERS are being ambushed with $330 council fines with rangers secretly scanning dogs’ microchips and then mailing off infringements.
Owners are being fined in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for allowing their dogs to play off leash and are also fined if their pets are caught in the park’s gully, stormwater rock pool, beach sheds or barbecue facility.
While there are many parks and beaches that permit dogs to roam freely at the discretion of their owners, Waverley Council only allows canines to stay on Bronte Park’s concrete pathway.
Any dog caught walking on the grassed areas is scanned by patrolling rangers, who then issues a $330 fine and mails them out to unsuspecting owners.
Local man Warren Graham, affectionately known in the area as “Bluey”, said the park was being patrolled seven days a week by two rangers.
“They just zap the dogs and then a few days later you get a $330 fine,” the 68-year-old said.
“You don’t even know that you’re being fined. They aren’t telling us the rules – they are just fining everybody and we are over it.”
So frustrated with the council’s actions, Mr Graham has since organised a protest to campaign against the secret scanning – an event to which more than 200 people attended in support.
Outraged locals flocked to the park on Saturday with signs picturing dogs saying “Waverley Council you’re not my best friend” and “My paws are hot and sore from the concrete”.
Mr Graham said the council was acting “unfairly” and abusing their power.
“You virtually can’t let your dog do anything,” he said. “They must have fined 200 people already.
“I spoke to a lady on Saturday who had two dogs and got fined $330 for each dog.
“You feel like you’re a criminal with your dog down here. They have 30 odd signs, but with all the signs people don’t understand what’s going on.”
Waverley mayor Sally Betts said the council had already completed a warning period with no fines, as well as done a letter drop to alert residents of the new laws.
“Dogs have never been allowed in Bronte Park at all – on or off the leash,” she said.
“Eighteen months ago we had discussions and allocated some areas where dogs were and weren’t allowed but it was never policed.
“Rangers were giving warnings in December and now we are enforcing those laws with fines.”
She said the council will sit down this week to develop new strategies to keep dog owners in the area happy.
“Maybe we will have to have another warning period … the sad thing is the whole idea of legitimising dogs in the park has backfired, we were trying to the right thing,” she said.
January 28, 2014
rspcaanimalcruelty 