Dog owners reminded of leash laws

Albany rangers are reminding dog owners they must abide by local laws, especially in exercise areas.

Under the Dog Act, owners are allowed to leave dogs off a lead provided they are under control and in a designated dog exercise area.

City of Albany ranger team leader Colin Hyde said dogs and their owners were, for the most part, well behaved.

“In a dog exercise area, (dogs) don’t have to be on a lead but they have to be under control,” he said.

“You have to have a lead with you and the lead has to be no more than 2m in length.”

The Dog Act identifies a dog under control as not endangering any person or dog, or unreasonably disturbing or interrupting the reasonable use of the dog exercise area by any person or other dog.

There are several designated dog areas in the city, with Middleton Beach being the most popular, but if people were exercising a dog in a non-designated area, Mr Hyde said they must be on a lead.

“People with a longer running lead (more than 2m) can be in a dog exercise area, but if they are not in a dog exercise area, the leash is against the law,” he said.

Mr Hyde said owners must also be aware of the definition of dog attacks.

“A dog attack not causing physical harm is still a dog attack,” he said. “Another thing expected is for owners to remove dog poos because it is an offence.

“But for the most part, (owners) are pretty good.”