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Shire of Plantagenet dog owners on notice after three attacks on residents

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Kellie BalaamAlbany Advertiser
The Shire of Plantagenet is calling on dog owners to take more responsibility for pets after attacks on residents.
Camera IconThe Shire of Plantagenet is calling on dog owners to take more responsibility for pets after attacks on residents. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The Sunday Times

The Shire of Plantagenet is calling on dog owners to take more responsibility for pets after attacks on residents.

Shire of Plantagenet chief executive Cameron Woods said the Shire would be taking a “stronger approach” to local dog laws and educating residents about what it means to be a responsible dog owner.

This local policy crackdown comes after three dogs were put down after attacks on people in the shire over the past three months.

“Dog ownership is a privilege, people need to understand all responsibilities that come with pet ownership (such as) animal welfare and they’re safely enclosed,” Mr Woods said.

He said the Shire would issue on-the-spot fines for any unregistered dog that had escaped its property.

“If they are not microchipped, it takes more resources to find out the owners, so if they’re registered and have a collar it’s a simple phone call to the owner,” he said.

“That’s why we’ll be issuing on-the-spot fines because it’s so much harder.”

Mr Woods said rangers had found 21 dogs roaming the region's roads since January, including nine that were unregistered.

“To understand what it means (to be a responsible owner) the Shire will be producing information that will go out to every household with our rates notice on what that looks like,” he said.

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