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With several recent dog attacks across the Warrumbungle Shire area, Council is seeking help from the community to ensure dogs are appropriately secured. “Dog attacks are a traumatic experience and dogs owners need to take responsibility for their dogs to protect the public against consequences of attacks,” said Warrumbungle Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Ambrose Doolan. “A number of dog attacks in our Shire are due to dogs being allowed to wander or when dogs have escaped from their owner’s property.” “Wandering dogs are not only a danger to the public but also a danger to themselves; they may become lost, stolen, killed or injured by vehicles on public roads or cause damage to other people or another animal.” “Unfortunately, dogs may also attack people, other pets or native animals. It can be difficult to imagine, but the way a dog behaves around their owner or family and friends can be completely different to how it behaves when the owner is not present with the dog,” said Cr Doolan. “Some dogs may attack livestock. Even the friendliest of family pets will usually exhibit instinctive behaviour when presented with the opportunity to chase sheep or cattle. Dog attacks on livestock cost Australian agriculture millions of dollars in damages every year,” Cr Doolan explained. “Remember, an attack isn’t just limited to a dog biting someone, it can include a dog rushing at, biting, harassing, or chasing any person or another animal. Whether or not any injury is caused to the person or animal it should still be reported, there could still be grounds to place a declaration on the attacking dog and the owner may receive a fine.” “If you are a dog owner, please keep them safe and secure at home. Sometimes accidents happen and dogs escape, but we can all do our part to prevent this from happening and reduce the number of dogs roaming the streets,” Cr Doolan concluded. Click here for more information about dog attacks and other information about animals or contact Council’s Compliance Officers on (02) 6849 2000.
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Last Updated: 25 Mar 2021