5 February 2007

Dogs off school ovals

| johnboy
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John Hargreaves is quick off the mark in addressing one of the gravest issues confronting the Canberra community at this time.

“Rangers from Domestic Animal Services will be conducting random patrols of school grounds throughout Canberra over the coming weeks. In the first instance, owners with dogs on school property will be warned; any subsequent offence will result in fines being issued”

Here in the RiotACT bunker we’re pleased that this menace to society is being promptly dealt with. We’re comfortable in the knowledge that rangers have nothing better to do.

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I once had a pair of new shoes with tank-like tread and one evening trod in dog poo and had to spend a not insignificant part of my evening trying to clean it up.

And until the shoes reached their use-by date I imagined they still stunk, which made me lose concentration at meetings, made me uncomfortable on the bus, in the Lift etc.

Quite simply, some thoughtless dog-owner made me a nervous wreck!

The main selfish, arrogant, personality type in our society can be attributed to:

(1)parents (with human dogs); (2)dog-owners;and(3) 4WD owners.

In saying this I realise I have unintentionally offended most of the free-speech lovers on this site!

Its not hard to be a considerate human being. In the immortal words of John Howard: “do unto others [shoes]…”.

“And, vg, you obviously have no kids, nor even seen a kid playing, if you think it’s ok to leave dog shit around because they should avoid stepping on it in the first place. Little kids don’t have PhDs, mmkay?”

Yes I do have kids, we were all playing with our 2 dogs this arvo.

And to quote LG:

“Where did VG or I suggest it was ok to leave dog shit lying around?????????? Or take your dog off it’s lead?”

Precisely. Grow up

Can you take a dog off lead to Stromlo Park and run along Deeks Drive? (Does it still exist?).

I’m happy to report I only get my left shoe covered in dogshite

You could always try harder and get both shoes 😛

-The other is up the owner’s arse.

“It takes a PhD to not step in dog doo doo?”

With my various MA’s, I’m happy to report I only get my left shoe covered in dogshite.

My dog won’t hurt a fly. Actually, I don’t think its even physically possible for her to hurt anything, her mouth is too small to fit anything in there. I walk her without a lead all the time, and I pass through school grounds to get to where she can run around. Little kids scare the living daylights out of her when they run up to her and shove their hands in her face. I don’t intend to keep my little one a leash all the time as there is very very small chance that she injure someone, and if she did, it would be because they approached her.

Shauno: I grew up with dogs too. But I’ve got the scar where one of mine ripped my face open too. No matter how familiar, things do go wrong with dogs.
VG: “I’m scared of whit epointers”
Go out with a local trawler and mingle with the sharks. That way maybe you will get over your phobia.
😛

stepping in dog shit is all part of growing up. lol

Where did VG or I suggest it was ok to leave dog shit lying around?????????? Or take your dog off it’s lead?

It takes a PhD to not step in dog doo doo?

I’ve wondered in the past whether dog laws are a bit over the top, but after seeing the attitudes of some owners here, I’m bloody glad there are laws to control them.

You may think your pet is your special friend, but to everyone else it’s merely your property. If your property injures me, you get to deal with it.

And, vg, you obviously have no kids, nor even seen a kid playing, if you think it’s ok to leave dog shit around because they should avoid stepping on it in the first place. Little kids don’t have PhDs, mmkay?

Woody Mann-Caruso10:32 am 07 Feb 07

Ranger! Ranger! That dog looked at me. I felt harassed! Have it put down!!!!!!

What part of “reasonable” didn’t you understand? How is a dog running, barking and jumping on you anything like a dog looking at you? Look, I think it’s great that retarded people are allowed on the net, but maybe next time you should have your carer post for you.

Nice rant though…

Sorry – I’ll switch to making completely irrelevant comparisons like you and your stupid mate. What was it again? Sharks? Clowns? No, wait, it was all about how governments enforcing existing laws is part of some conspiracy to erode non-existent, entirely imaginary rights. Flog artist.

I’ll just to choose to ignore silly rules like that.

You’re free to break the law – and the ACT government is free to slap you with a fine if they catch you. It’s just like speeding – same idiots who can’t grasp that their actions have consequences, then complain when those consequences actually occur.

Ummm…

He’s quoting L.A.W.

Sorry to play devils advocate on this one, but yes, if that mini poodle is playing tricks on your mind, then the LAW says what must be done.

WMD is a tool, but the content of his words are correct.

*** DISCLAIMER ***
I haven’t checked if he was actually quoting law, I have referenced his advice that he was.

On a bynote, if a dog approaches me menacingly (aka teeth, etc), I discipline the dog first, owner second. The second dressing down is generally more verbally volatile, however with a calm dog sitting obediently beside the owner, I’m at ease that my conscience is clear.

Woody said “A dog is taken to harass a person if, because of its behaviour, the person reasonably fears that the dog is about to attack the person without provocation.

No attack is necessary – just a reasonable fear that one will occur – like when a slavering mongrel charges you or our kids, barking and jumping. He might be playing – or he might not. I shouldn’t have to decide.” and he said other wank also.

Ranger! Ranger! That dog looked at me. I felt harassed! Have it put down!!!!!! My civil rights have been infringed by the dog looking at me!! Sure it’s a mini poodle, but I feel threatened”

Tosser.

Amen Thumper. Amen. Keep the dogs, ban the clowns.

Woody. I’ll just to choose to ignore silly rules like that. Not that I have a dog anymore but I grew up with dogs and use to happily take them for walks on the nearby school ovals. And if I ever do get another one I’ll do the same.

You don’t want to work in my office then LG.

I’m scared of clowns, so I don’t want any of them hanging around schools. I would feel “confronted” and be “eyeball to eyeball” with them.

Our kids are at more risk from paedophiles on their school ovals than a dog on a lead who’s owner carries a poo-bag.

All together now

‘I believe that children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way’

You need to get out more if dogs freak you out sweetie. Those are direct quotoes from you. I dont need to embellish them to make you look silly.

Were you at home sick with fear?

“after the dogs have leapt up in tandem to adult eyeball level with open panting jaws”

Oh my hat! God forbid the dogs should breathe whilst in the middle of their vicious ‘attack’

If the dog is on a leash, and the owners collect the poo, then what is the problem with dogs on ovals?

well vg, I may have been somewhat touchy as I was at home sick. However as I tried to express in my posts (that you have selectively cut and pasted), that it is not the dogs per se. I have been the proud owner of a beloved cattle dog.

However, around here anyway, there are people who think it is fine to let their huge dogs bail up strangers and then excuse themselves by saying things like, oh they won’t hurt, after the dogs have leapt up in tandem to adult eyeball level with open panting jaws. I am now freaked, yes, mainly because these people do not give a shit (only their dogs’) about others, and if I am scared imagine how children feel. Maybe you are OK. I don’t know. But a reasonable fear is not a phobia (Pandy’s comment).

Can you not see that there must be a problem if someone who knows and likes dogs finds it freaky?

‘Personal remarks’ would be the inference that I am a fearful person by nature with a dog phobia and also the assertion that I am a ‘cat person’, as if that is an insult, which it isn’t. (This form of usage is on par with calling someone a ‘girl’, as if femininity is an insult.)

The water retort you quoted was to JB, who apparently thought he was being witty or sarky or something, seeing as how I don’t bow and scrape to his particular viewpoint on water, and say so.

I believe I have backed up my views, which is all I need to do. I would like to be free to enjoy green spaces in the ACT without inconsiderate persons with uncontrolled dogs thinking they have every right to impinge on other people’s rights. Obviously not everyone who owns a dog is rude and selfish, but there are enough to spoil others’ enjoyment of public spaces.

Lots of kids (and adults, including me) are scared of dogs

Water doesn’t have teeth!

well frankly most kids are eyeball to eyeball with dogs, who may ot may not be on a leash (ie apparently uncontrolled or controlled by someone they don’t know or trust).
It is confronting.

But big dogs and dogs off the leash do freak me out. Don’t trust the dog or the owner

All your quotes. Feel free to lock yourself inside the house to stay away from the big, bad world. I’m guessing roaming packs of vicious dogs aren’t stalking schools as we speak. In fact I struggle to remember the last dog ‘attack’ in this town. It is you that should be thinking before you post, but I’m guessing that you’re one of those people that launches to the other side of the road when I’m walking my 2 well behaved dogs on the leash.

I don’t understand what this bit means though

“and think before erroneous making personal remarks.”

Did you just get back from watching Borat?

Woody Mann-Caruso10:46 pm 06 Feb 07

Exactly Shauno, our rights are slowly but surely being eroded.

I’m pretty sure walking your dog on school property isn’t a right. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s against the Domestic Animals Act 2000 – unless you have the permission of the principal or the person in charge of the school (see s42(1)(b)), which I doubt any of you do.

I did wonder when I saw that my kids’ school wasn’t prohibited but an adjacent one wa

You’re confusing “prohibited areas” (which are declared by the Minister, and signposted accordingly) with “prohibited places”. The following are prohibited places:

– primary schools and child care centres;
– high schools during school hours or when sports activities are being conducted;
– a playing field or playing area where sports activities are being conducted;
– a public place within 10m of anything designed for children to play on if children are playing on it, a fire appliance or heating appliance designed for cooking food in a public place, and a swimming area under the Lakes Act 1976.

The 2nd either of them displays an unprovoked aggressive tendency towards mine or any other child the dog will get put down.

That’ll be a ‘2nd’ too late when you’re waiting for a surgeon to stich your precious child’s face back together – or somebody else’s child’s face. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen some bogan on the news after their kid has been savaged by the loyal family pet who would never harm a fly.

rangers have nothing better to do.

Domestic animal control is part of their job. I’m glad they’re doing it. I hope they start issuing on-the-spot fines to people who let their dog crap in a public place and don’t pick it up, too.

And there is your problem

No, it’s the dog owner’s problem. More from the aforementioned Act:

A dog is taken to harass a person if, because of its behaviour, the person reasonably fears that the dog is about to attack the person without provocation.

No attack is necessary – just a reasonable fear that one will occur – like when a slavering mongrel charges you or our kids, barking and jumping. He might be playing – or he might not. I shouldn’t have to decide.

I’m sick of trying to enjoy a park with my friends or nephews and nieces and being harrassed by moron dogs and their moron owners. Walk them on a leash in the street, or take them to a designated exercise area. The dog is your responsibility, and I don’t see why I should have to suffer because you ar$ehats can’t be bothered to obey the law.

Vg, pandy, read my posts properly . . . and think before erroneous making personal remarks.

I am scared of white pointer sharks. They must be removed from school ovals immediately

Miz said: (“and adults, including me) are scared of dogs”

And there is your problem.

Go to a local dog training ground and mingle with the dogs playing in the exercise yards. that way maybe you will get over your phobia.

Miz

I would advise you to lock yourself inside your house as much as possible as the world is a terrifying place.

I own 2 dogs that both are not small and play very well supervised with my 14 month old child. The 2nd either of them displays an unprovoked aggressive tendency towards mine or any other child the dog will get put down.

Walking dogs on big ass school ovals is what I have done since I was old enough to walk a dog, and will continue to do so.

“and detest having to scrape dogshite off my children’s shoes and my carpet!”

You don’t need a PhD to know that the best way to avoid that is not to step on it in the 1st place.

I’m guessing you’re a ‘cat person’

Sorry, mucked it up.

Swans are native birds, aren’t they? I think that makes them protected. He might think twice if he knew the fine he could cop.

An example: while my children were feeding a couple of swans on the local pond on the weekend, a real ‘tough guy’ came down with his dog off leash and started encouraging it to chase the swans. And he took exception when we protested…

I didn’t know we weren’t allowed to walk dogs on school ovals.

More bins would mean more dog owners would pick up after their dogs.

And if they stop watering all but a couple of ovals, and close a heap of schools, and build on a heap of parks, the remaining school ovals are going to be the only place left to walk dogs.

OK here’s the legislation, ie Domestic Animals Act 2000: go to p 20 and read on.
http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2000-86/current/pdf/2000-86.pdf
Sorry I don’t know how to make the link snazzier.

That certainly contradicts their spiel today. I guess they will have to review and fix the maps. I must say I did wonder when I saw that my kids’ school wasn’t prohibited but an adjacent one was . . . thought it was probably a one-off boo boo like all the other maps (you know, like Lake Tugg College labelled Lake Gin College on the school maps).

darkladywolf4:34 pm 06 Feb 07

I’ve been looking at the Maps and the page that miz referenced, and I can’t see it saying that ovals are off limits. I checked a few ovals that I know the locations of, and they weren’t marked as “Dogs Prohibited”. The website seems to say if it isn’t marked Prohibited, or Exercise, then you can use it to walk dogs on leash.

There are significant problems with irresponsible dog owners out there – particularly in our area (north).
An example: while my children were feeding a couple of swans on the local pond on the weekend, a real ‘tough guy’ came down with his dog off leash and started encouraging it to chase the swans. And he took exception when we protested…
I’ve learnt that it is pointless trying to reason with arseholes.
So I don’t have a problem with some visible enforcement of the laws in the ACT, when it seems that car parking is the only thing that gets any attention.
I’ll be writing to Hargeaves asking that he point those rangers in our direction.

remind me to walk past your house with my dog every day now.
I don’t have a dog, but my point remains…
Where can I exercise my dog then ?

It would also help if there were more bins around

My policy in places like Kmart is that if I can’t find a bin within a few minutes, I leave my rubbish on the shelf. It’s easier finding a bin out in the street than it is in Kmart.

It would also help if there were more bins around.

Ralph, Nup. But think how boring it would be if ‘shielas’ agreed with you all the time! This forum is democracy in action!

For the record, I don’t dislike dogs per se, we used to have a cattle dog that was always managed with care when strangers were around. But big dogs and dogs off the leash do freak me out. Don’t trust the dog or the owner, especially around lots of unpredictable kiddies. I absolutely understand that owners are one-eyed about their beloved dogs and often they can ‘do no wrong’. Ask any dog/cat groomer about dogs/cats that ‘have never done that before! he’s a gentle as a kitten, such a sweet nature, wouldn’t hurt a fly!’.

I do object to public littering, however, and detest having to scrape dogshite off my children’s shoes and my carpet!

Good ole Hargreaves: forcing dogs off school grounds, while he thinks it’s okay to drink and drive!

it’s OK, my uncle says Simba will chase these rangers away from the oval, if they try to fine him.

our rights are slowly but surely being eroded.

Behold the Labor Government.

What a crock of shit thats all I can say to more examples of excessive rules and regulations.

Hasdrubahl, lol how did I know your dog was going to be called Simba !

As for the Parking Nazi’s – an open thankyou.

I parked outside my building all day last Friday, completely forgetting that I was in a 2 hour carpark. When I returned to my vehicle after work – I suddenly despaired that I hadn’t moved my car, assuredly I would have a new bill to pay.

Thankfully, I didn’t. Thanks for missing me chaps !

My uncle will not be happy with this development. He owns a convenience store which has many kids stealing sweets etc from it, and has been training his Ridgeback to deal with these thieves.

He finds that school ovals are the best place to teach Simba to chase small children.

Growling Ferret8:38 am 06 Feb 07

At this the Rangers on PooPatrol makes a change from them spending all day walking around carparks trying to book anyone 30 seconds after their pre-paid parking expires…

Miz, you are an extremely irritating sheila.

You’re not that woman from the Australian Pensioners Insurance ads?

Fifi, my Bichon Frise, has often been set upon by gangs of unruly Primary school kids at our local oval.

I trust the Rangers will deal with these young hooligans appropriately.

VG, no, it’s irresponsible dog owners that make them have to do this kind of task. I agree that it would be better if there was no need. But unfortunately there is.

Wolfkeeng, maybe you are a responsible dog owner, but many aren’t. Kids and teachers have enough to worry about without dogs added to the mix. You are right about the broken bottles of course – broken glass and doggie doo show up the irresponsibility of some people using shared green space like school ovals.
As for ‘confronted’, well frankly most kids are eyeball to eyeball with dogs, who may ot may not be on a leash (ie apparently uncontrolled or controlled by someone they don’t know or trust).
It is confronting.

The rangers do have better things to do. Its just the Govt makes them waste their time doing this shit

I note that this Stalinist crackdown is to last for only six weeks.

What do the DAS Rangers do after that – face ignominious redundancy?

Just because a dog is on school grounds (public property) doesn’t necessarily mean any one is ‘confronted’. We could all happily share the space if both dog owners and non-dog owners were tolerant and responsible. I get pretty sick of people scooping their children up at the mere sight of a dog – that’s just breeding an unreasonable fear of dogs.

Things worse than “landmines” at schools include, but not limited to:
– broken bottles on playing fields
– bullying
– poorly resourced staff and libraries and aging infrastructure
– the stifling of creativity, individuality and childhood

My dog’s shit may well stink, but so does everyones. And who cleans up people poo? No one. In oh so many places in this wide brown land it is flushed away (in drinking quality water), out of sight and smell, to sit and fester untreated at the bottom of oceans, lakes and rivers. We’re just damn lucky in the ACT that the LMWQCC is such a high quality piece of infrastructure our poo infested water is returned downstream in a better state than we take it out of the river upstream.

The government would be better off enforcing water restrictions than dogs. For if we run out of water there will be no school grounds worth squabbling over.

Water doesn’t have teeth!

And miz, you’re terrified of where water comes from.

Lots of kids (and adults, including me) are scared of dogs, and can do without being confronted with one as they start school.
And there’s nothing worse than a landmine on school grounds. You would be amazed how many selfish dog owners there are out there who think their ‘little darling”s shit doesn’t stink.

I don’t have a prob with this one at all. I hope they also check out adjacent bike paths for owners not cleaning up after their pets.

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