Aussies are being slugged ‘eye-watering’ fines for not having a pet on a leash or not properly maintaining control of the leash, under a new state based crackdown.
Several residents on the Gold Coast have gone to A Current Affair to share their stories about large fines issued under the regulations.
Under new pet ownership laws that came into effect on July 31, if residents do not keep a dog under effective control when in a public place, there is an on-the-spot fine of $806 with further fines of up to $112,910 for more serious dog attack offences as well as up to three years imprisonment.
‘Changes were made to the AMCDA due to a rise in complaints about aggressive dogs and dog attacks, and the large number of dog-attack victims admitted to hospital each year in Queensland,’ the Queensland government said in a statement online.
While the laws are state based, it is up to the discretion of individual councils to enforce the fines.
Retiree John lives a few minutes away from Budds Beach, a tiny stretch of sand on the canal at Surfers Paradise.
He was recently fined $806 for ‘failure to exercise effective control of a non regulated dog in a public place’, after walking his dog an estimated 10 metres from his van to the water where the pair kayak.
Retiree John (pictured) copped a huge $806 fine for taking his dog to the beach unleashed
‘I thought that it was very unfair as I was only travelling from my van to the water’ John said. ‘If I didn’t pay it in 28 days, I would be charged extra.’
There are signs further up on Budds Beach saying dogs must be on a leash at all times and that residents must pick up after their dogs.
‘I wasn’t wandering on footpaths or public areas, I was just travelling from the car to the water, I didn’t think I did anything wrong,’ John said.
The retiree said he will be doing without things over Christmas because of the fine.
The City of Gold Coast has fined two different dog owners for failing to secure their pets (pictured a sign warning dog owners of the fine)
A second Queensland resident has also been fined under the same laws after having her dog leash under her foot during a coffee break.
‘It’s wrong, we are trying to survive and it is another stress I didn’t need,’ the fashion boutique owner said.
‘She was on a lead and collar and she was behaving properly,’ she said.