Anzac Park is for everyone to enjoy.

I heard that the Clarence council and a person in the RSL is in favour of NOT PERMITTING dogs to run free and happy, under supervision of their owners, within Anzac Park, Lindisfarne.

I feel for the service men and women who served Australia in past wars experiencing long separations from their family and pets. Thousands of these children (and many were just children in their late teens) never returned from war to experience their tears of joy while clutching their pet and being smothered with love and licks. A dog is man’s best friend – and always has been.

Elderly persons in our societies deserve our respect, and they need the company of other people as well exercise and laughter. This is the interaction that happens in parks and during a wander along the beach. A pet can be an integral part of their mental well-being because a pet is a living creature relying on their owner for food, care and exercise, and in-turn gives the human unconditional love – without question.

We also have ‘service dogs’ becoming more prevalent in our societies today accompanying humans of all ages and who are being accepted on public transport, into restaurants, hospitals and schools; in fact, I should think there would not be too many restrictions for ‘service dogs’.

There are many families that have a dog that goes with them on outings. They love their dog – it’s a member of the family. The kids love the dog. Now the parents have to tell the children that they can’t take ‘Lassie’ to be beach because she’s not welcome by a few people: “She has to stay home in the yard or we have to make her swim and walk on the lead.” That’s if there is a beach left to take dogs and have a swim with them. Most people on the beach have a dog. Will the ‘current’ dog beaches be used as much with just walkers?

Animals are not cruel, heartless, self-serving nor arrogant. Animals can live together – most often in harmony and with respect of each other. That’s nature’s best work.

So, I question the council’s full intent?

• Do one or two of them just hate dogs? Dogs don’t hate people!
• Are adults demanding to ride their bicycle or little scooters everywhere? Presently they ride in parks, on the beach, along pedestrian pavements (at speed), and, as we all know, some love to hog the road that they pay nothing for.
• There is always an ‘undesirable’ element in every society. These people care for no-one but themselves: just like an inconsiderate bike rider, the ‘undesirables’ won’t pick up after their dog, or horse. Often a kind dog owner will pick-up after another person’s dog to keep the park or beach clean. Respectful dog owners respect the beach and parks.

What this council is proposing for Anzac Park is beyond belief. So, what is their hidden agenda? Do they just enjoy making elderly people miserable? Is that to be the legacy for the outgoing Mayor?

Anzac Park is a lovely environment in which to relax and view the city. Personally, I hate it when a cyclist speeds along a path and scares the dogs and sometimes small children, but some of these riders just don’t care. Everyone in the park puts up with the cyclists and have not demanded that they do not enter the park. Anzac Park is for all citizens to enjoy – especially the living!