8. Education and Regulation

Education and regulation are important components to the success of any dog off-leash area. Clear information is required for users of open space to ensure that they understand the difference between off-leash areas, on-leash areas and dog prohibited areas, and the responsibilities for exercising dogs in open spaces. The regulation of dogs in open space relies on the clarity and understanding of this information. Dog owners need to understand that not everyone wants to encounter dogs when they visit a park or beach.

8.1 Education

Community education and awareness is paramount to the management of dogs in open spaces. Opportunities to enhance awareness for dog owners of their responsibilities in Council-managed open spaces should be facilitated in a variety of ways. This strategy recommends that a community education and awareness program be developed with key messages and information relating to: • owner responsibilities for having dogs in open space • opportunities to exercise dogs in open space • location and boundaries of dog off-leash locations

• location and boundaries of dog prohibited areas. The methods and frequency of communicating this information to the community will be integral to the success of the program.

8.2 Signage

Signage is an onsite tool that is essential for all users of open space to understand the rules and regulations applied to that area. Signage specific for dogs in open space is required to provide localised for dog owners and other users to understand where dogs can be off-leash, on-leash or prohibited from and what their responsibilities are. A traffic light colour coded system is recommended to be developed and used in line with Council’s sign guidelines to provide consistent messaging on the permissibility of dogs in a specific location. The colour coding is:

Green Dogs permitted off-leash Orange Dogs permitted on-leash only Red Dogs prohibited

Unless an area is identified as off-leash or dog prohibited, the area is on leash only. It is not the intention to provide traffic light signs at all open spaces to identify on-leash areas. The system will primarily be used where there are transitions from either dog prohibited or off-leash areas. The strategy recommends three types of signage to be used in Council open space areas: • site location signs at major entry points to an offleash area that include an aerial photo and use the traffic light colour coding • individual traffic light colour coded signs to define transitions and boundaries between off-leash, on-leash and dog prohibited zones • regulation signage that identifies specific regulations for dogs in open space, owner responsibilities and possible infringement fines.

Dog owners assume responsibility for their dogs when exercising them in open space areas. These include:

• ensuring dogs are registered and wearing a dog collar with a tag identifying the name of the dog and contact number for the owners

• picking up and correctly disposing of all dog waste in an appropriate bin • ensuring a 16 years or over is present and responsible for the dog in the open space area and that one person does not have more than four dogs in their care and control within open space areas • restricting breeds or dogs declared as dangerous from open space areas • not entering dog prohibited areas including within 10m of playgrounds, skate parks, patrolled beach areas, Green Point Foreshore

Reserve or other areas signposted as dog prohibited • keeping their dog on lead when not in dog off-leash areas

• keeping their dogs under effective control when in an off-leash area

• understanding that owners can be held liable if their dog attacks another person or animal. The regulation of dogs in Council-managed open space requires a combination of self-management and when required, enforcement by Council Rangers. Off-leash and on-leash areas are provided on the understanding that owners are responsible for their dogs and their actions. These have been identified in Section 7.3 of this strategy. Community education and self-management, is considered the primary tool for regulating dogs in open space. This includes dog owners knowing their responsibilities and other users understanding the open space areas dogs are permitted to be in. Signage is a good support tool for on-the-ground knowledge of a specific site. The final tool for regulation is education and enforcement through Council Rangers. Rangers have the authority to issue fines, should breaches with dogs in open space occur. As Rangers have a vast breadth of responsibility within a Council area, and are a finite resource, it is unrealistic to shoulder the majority of responsibility of dogs in open space to them.

Rangers, being at the frontline with the community, have an important role in educating, building relationships, as well as enforcing rules and regulations. On-the-ground community education is particularly important when there are changes to dog off-leash, on-leash or prohibited areas.