Ararat plea over dogs at large

Ararat council officials are imploring residents to be better dog owners after 16 dog attacks – including one on a person – in the municipality since COVID-19 restrictions started in March.

The 16 dog attacks have included one instance of injury to a person who required medical treatment.

They also included circumstances where a dog had to be destroyed after attacking livestock, and three dogs that needed veterinary treatment for puncture wounds and cuts that required stitches after being attacked by other dogs.

Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Tim Harrison said it was disappointing that there had been so many dog attacks in such a short period of time.

He said council officers believed the attacks had happened because there were more dogs roaming due to people being at home and being able to exercise their pets more frequently due to restrictions.

“More people are walking their dogs more often, but obviously some do not have adequate control over their animals,” he said.

“Under council local law, dog owners must have control over their dogs at all times while out walking – this effectively means having them on a leash at all times.

“If you cannot control your dog even when it is on a leash, you should not be taking it for a walk.”

Under legislation, the council has the power to issue fines for each incident of up to $990 to owners and order the killing of dogs that attack people and other animals.

Owners could also be subject to court action and other costs such as vet or medical bills.

Dogs being ‘at large’ – roaming the streets unattended – is also subject to fines under council local law.

“Council usually records one or two dog attacks a month, so to have 16 reported in just two months is unacceptable,” Dr Harrison said.

“The council is extremely disappointed in the owners of dogs who don’t have control over their animals, and we implore anyone with a dog with this kind of nature to think seriously about the consequences before taking them outside their property.”

Dog owners whose pets attack, rush at or bite a person or other animals are subject to fines that range from $165 through to many thousands of dollars depending on the severity of the case.

Dr Harrison said it was important for dog owners to know their responsibilities under the law.

“Most people know their pet as a placid and loved family member and are distressed if their dog attacks a person or another dog,” he said.

“But as a dog owner, they have the responsibility to ensure their pet is regularly socialised and trained properly so that these situations don’t happen.”

Dog owners must also register their pets with the council and pay annual fees, with failure to do so also attracting fines.

Dr Harrison said pet registration also ensured animals could be returned to their owners quickly and safely if they escaped.