MOVE COMES WITH BITE

PET owners have a special connection with their furry companions.

For many Gold Coasters, pets are part of the family.

There’s an apt cliché which says that dogs are not our whole lives but they make our lives whole. How true that is.

The time you can spend with a pet can be the most felicitous of any day.

But it is with great sadness that animal lovers have witnessed such a sharp rise in dog-on-dog violence in recent months, as well as attacks on their owners.

In one horrifying incident a woman reportedly lost a finger while trying to save her own pet from a rabid dog.

The Gold Coast is well-known as a pet haven, with many off-leash parks and dog beaches across the city.

Our council has ramped up its dogfriendly policies in recent years, with offers of free registration for seniors and defence force veterans.

This is a reputation the city has worked hard to cultivate which sets it apart from some of our southeast Queensland neighbours. It is clear that ongoing education against animal violence is not getting through. It must stop, not just for the city’s sake but to prevent the mental scars and trauma which come from being attacked and indeed witnessing it.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster’s calls for tougher penalties is welcome and long-overdue.

It is incumbent on our city leaders to find any legislative means through which they can reduce this violence. Being hit in the hip pocket can speak louder than words ever can.

It comes down to responsibility.

And in all instances that comes back to the owners of these violent dogs.

If you cannot control your pet and it hurts an innocent member of the community, you will face punishment.

The best way to avoid that is by teaching your dog to behave.

Responsibility starts at home.