Anti Dog Laws !

Sydney councils are virtually legislating dogs out of existence in this city.   Bondi Vet Christ Brown comments that we are "forty to fifty years behind the rest of the world "!   In Europe and the United States it is perfectly legal to take your dog with you when you drop by for a cup of coffee in a cafe or restaurant, but that is banned by a thicket of by-laws in this city.

The ban extends to dogs carried in taxis or on public transport and the number of areas designated for "off leash " exercise is noticeably dwindling.  This is despite clear evidence of the necessity of allowing dogs the freedom to run free as part of the training that creates good social manners and makes them cooperative social animals.   The number of households with a dog as a pet has steadily declined in recent years.

Few dog owners who do not own or drive a car can access an off leash area.  What few exist are remote from living areas and are usually subject to strict timetables, only open in the early morning or late evening.  At the same time, motoring by-laws demand that even the tiniest lap dog carried in a car must be secured by a special animal harness, similar to the seat belt regime required for humans. Draconian fines are imposed for ignoring this law.

It is freely acknowledged that a companion animal has enormous value in combating stress and the pressures of city living.  It is a cure for loneliness and is a useful tool in treating various types of mental illness.  It is in the nature of dogs to be loyal and attentive to their owners and a custom has developed of having a resident dog in many retirement villages for the benefit this brings to the aged residents.

Strangely, we have just amended the laws that apply to apartment living to stop body corporates issueing total "no pets " bans that prevent residents sharing with a dog or a cat as a companion.  It makes little sense to allow the freedom to own a pet and at the same time impose a regime that virtually forbids most forms of exercise.   Taking a leashed walk on a city street is a poor substitute for chasing a ball or running free in a park.

The days of owning a house on a quarter acre block is fast diminishing for city residents.  The future is clearly more of the "vertical village " concept and with the relaxation of pet ownership laws for apartment living we are likely to see more conflict between the owners of pets and the councils where they reside.

It seems to be human nature to break what we consider "bad laws "!   Desperate owners are likely to resort to giving their dog a run in a city park late at night - and their revenge motif could be not picking up after their dog has done it's business on park lawns.  Would it be too much to ask to set aside a dog exercise area in reasonable proximity to where the mass of people live ?

The dog is allowed to live harmoniously with humans in Europe and the rest of the world and yet we seem determined to legislate it out of existence here in Australia.   Perhaps an attitudinal change would go a long way to solving some of the problems that can be alleviated by the presence of a companion animal !