Bid to stop pest dogs

BINGIL Bay residents are calling on Cassowary Coast Regional Council to sink their teeth in to the issue of problem dogs roaming the region.

Chris and Dot Hunter have lodged a petition asking councillors to enact stricter laws to deal with excessive barking and howling and penalise dog owners when their pets are found scavenging through rubbish bins and chasing native wildlife.

Ninety-seven residents across the Mission Beach area have signed the petition.

“We spoke to a lot of people in the area and they all have different stories about dog problems,” Mrs Hunter said.

“There is not really any deterrent. If you don’t pay fines it gets sent to another department and a payment plan is worked out.

“They’re especially bad at Carmoo and can be seen running wild through the rainforest area chasing cassowaries and wallabies.”

Cassowary Coast Regional Councillor Wayne Kimberley (Div 3) agreed and said the council had started a process to ask the State Government for more powers in relation to problem animals together with neighbouring councils.

“It’s an animal problem not just a dog problem,” he said.

“Pigs also cause a tremendous amount of damage to turtles, cassowaries.”

Tropical Vet Services’ vet Graham Lauridsen said he treated animals for dog attack injuries daily and believed the council was not aware how many dogs roamed the Cassowary Coast.

He said the issue had worsened.

“The vast majority are owned dogs, there are not that many feral dogs around,” he said.