Not dog management but dog cruelty

I have been the proud owner of several dogs over the decades, and have enjoyed their company and the company of others. They’ve not always been dogs I have been able to have off lead - one was fearful of people and another blind. However, the ones I have been fortunate enough to allow off lead have had some amazing places to do so. Beaches, parks, trails and bushland have all been places where my dogs have been able to socialise with other dogs, have enriching experiences and behave as a dog should, including, sniffing, running and playing with other dogs.

Removing off lead access to pretty much 80% of existing areas is tantamount to cruelty for our dogs, and to the people who provide this enrichment to their dogs. There are any number of places people who don’t want to be around off lead dogs can go and take their on lead dogs. There is only a few where dogs can be off lead. Council should be making every effort to retain these, and add additional areas, not fewer. People without dogs can pretty much go anywhere they please.

There is a definite trend around Tasmania to continually restrict the movement of dogs off lead. How can this be healthy for either end of the lead? It is fast becoming a State where the companionship of a dog will be less appealing. But maybe this is Council’s main objective?