Reminder to confine your dogs

Published on 10 April 2019

Residents living in rural areas within the Gannawarra Shire are reminded to ensure their dogs are securely confined to their property.

The warning comes after Council successfully prosecuted two residents whose dogs killed and mauled sheep in separate incidents at Murrabit and Quambatook.

“A Murrabit man was fined $2000 without conviction and ordered to pay Council’s court costs during a Kerang Magistrates’ Court hearing last month following an incident where a dog killed three sheep and mauled 10 others,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.

“The man was also ordered to pay $3766 in compensation after facing charges relating to dogs being at large during daylight hours, failure to register and aggravated charges of dog attack causing injury.”

In a separate incident that was heard at the Kerang Magistrates’ Court earlier in the year, a matter relating to the death of 17 sheep and mauling of 12 sheep resulted in a Quambatook woman undertaking a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay Council costs.

“The owner of the dogs showed remorse for the deaths, paying compensation to the owners of the sheep on her own undertaking,” Mayor Learmonth said.

“Both of these incidents show that animal owners need to ensure their dogs cannot escape from their property.”

Residents can ensure their pets are properly secured by checking that dogs cannot dig under, push through or jump over fencing and that gates are secured on their properties.