Man fined $800 over common act
Written by admin on November 3, 2024
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.
Two residents on the Gold Coast have taken 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 Budd’s 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.
“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 Budd’s 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.
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.
