Council urges responsible pet ownership

Redland City Council is urging pet owners to take responsibility for their pets to ensure animals and people remain safe and live together harmoniously.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said while owning a pet could provide valuable companionship, there were responsibilities to your pet and the community that needed to be considered.

“Council thanks the Redlands Coast community and other users of dog off-leash areas, who, in most cases, do the right thing and manage their dogs responsibly,” Cr Williams said.

“While there was a 21 per cent decrease in dog attacks in 2021 compared to 2020, data shows that dog attacks tend to occur primarily through owners having their dogs off-leash in public places or who fail to contain their dog effectively to their property.

“Council acknowledges that pets play a vital role in the community for companionship, but residents and visitors need to take responsibility for their dogs.

“By ensuring your dog is kept within their fenced yard and on a lead at all times in public places, except when in a designated off-leash area, you can help keep your dog and the community safe.

“Being a responsible dog owner on Redlands Coast means registering and microchipping your dog, walking your dog on a lead, picking up your dog’s droppings when in a public place, and preventing your dog from attacking or frightening people or animals.

“Council also urges dog owners to be mindful of how often their dogs might bark.”

Cr Williams said while all dogs barked, in some cases, excessive barking could become a neighbourhood nuisance.

“As some dog owners may not be aware of the barking issue, Council encourages concerned neighbours to speak with the dog owner in the first instance,” she said.

“Council also has some handy tips on its website to help dog owners manage the issue.

“Responsible pet ownership also extends to keeping other furry family members, like cats, safe.

“Straying cats can get injured or impact native wildlife, so for their safety and your peace of mind, cats must be contained to their property either indoors or within an enclosure, and always remember to register and microchip your cat.”

To learn more about responsible pet ownership on Redlands Coast, visit Council’s website.