Dog exercise areas on City of Albany agenda after two petitions presented to council

The City of Albany will investigate the creation of fenced dog exercise areas in Albany after two petitions were received by the council at last Tuesday’s meeting. Councillors voted 12-0 to receive petitions presented to the City ahead of the meeting on May 24, both calling for fully fenced off-leash dog exercise areas. The first petition, lodged by Monica Belz with 200 signatures, called for the council to create a fully fenced dog exercise area in the Lower King/Bayonet area. A second petition, lodged by Lily Link with 344 signatures, asked the council to establish an enclosed off-leash dog exercise area at Foundation Park. Ms Link launched her petition in March and at the time said Albany was “well overdue” for a safe area for dogs to run freely. “It brings a bit of a comfort knowing there is no way they can escape or get run over by a car,” she said. “Lots of people are too scared to let their dogs off leashes for this reason, so I think it would encourage people to take their dogs out more so they will get more socialisation, which is again really great for the dog.” City chief executive Andrew Sharpe will now prepare a report for the council “regarding construction of enclosed off-leash dog exercise areas” including indicative costings, compliance aspects and possible locations.