Michael's story

The Lord Mayor and the City of Sydney councellors,

Some four years ago my wife and I purchased a unit in Jacksons Landing after reading in the Sydney Morning Herald that the area was "pet friendly". The actual advertisement included the words 'bring your dog'. We also read that Clover Moore and the Sydney City Council encouraged dogs in the area. Upon moving here we found that having a dog was a great advantage when making friends with neighbours in our complex and from all over the area. I have walked my dog weather permitting every day in the morning and the afternoon. In all that time I could count on one hand the occasions when I have seen dogs fighting. Not long after walking the dog in the parks I realised that when they were on the leash they were very aggressive, but when they were off the leash they were friendly to all the other dogs. When a new dog arrived on the scene our dogs would go to meet it enmasse and the new dog usually rolls over onto its back whilst dogs would sniff it and then would all get up and play together.

I have always picked up my dogs 'business' in the bags provided and in fact regularly pick up others found lying in the park. If I notice a dog doing his business in the park unbeknown to its owner, I inform them and in all cases the owners have then picked it up.

In all of the time I have been here we have met each afternoon in Cadi Park, and whilst the owners socialised the have happily played together. Some months ago, included in our group was a pair of chihuahuas who constantly yapped, but they have since left the area for the eastern suburbs. I was aware that this could have annoyed some of the locals, but that situation has been rectified.

If the dogs are no longer allowed to be offleash in Cadi Park, and the owners continue to congregate each afternoon with their dogs onleash, I can envisage these dogs yapping loudly as i have witnessed in the past and the residents will be worse off. The time the dog owners meet in the park in usually between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. If the Council has had complaints about the noise I wonder if the complainants could be reinterviewed to see if the complaints were against the chihuahuas. If so the problem has already been rectified.

I understand that the Council has decided to offer the park in Bowman Street alongside the Stationhouse as an offleash park. I would like to point out that that park is continually being used as a cricket field and it would be ridiculous to have dogs there whilst balls are flying around. Also, most weekends there are childrens' parties held in the Stationhouse and the dogs would interfere with this.

I understand that the Council interviewed locals in the park regarding their views. I do find that strange because as I have previously stated that I walk my dog day and night through the parks and I have never been asked my opinion. I have made a point of it to ask many other residents, both dog owners and non dog owners and I have found nobody who has been interviewed or asked their opinion.

I might add that whilst walking my dog or socialising with others I have been approached by outsiders asking what it is like with all the dogs. I have always replied how well they get on together and when asked about the Council's opinion I have always said the the Council is very favourable towards us.

Quite some time ago Cr Marcel Hoff was regularily talking to a group of residents and showed her position of being in favour of offleash. I have been informed by some of those residents that she has made a 360 degree turn and was in fact distributing a petition to stop offleash. This does disturb me and if in fact the Council has changed its position I am very disappointed.


Yours Sincerely,
Michael Ogg