Sep 19

Written by:
Monday, September 19, 2011 1:11 PM 

Keep the pressure on and continue the fight

There are people who don't want your dog walked anywhere

It's very sad but there are people who think that the proposed restrictions on off-leash dog walking in La Balsa park and Point Cartwright don't go far enough.

You may have seen this letter to the editor, from the Sunshine Coast daily on the 15th September, 2011:
There are people around who will not be satisfied just to have your dog on a leash for it's entire life.  They also want your dog out of the park altogether.

No more swims at the beach, no more family picnics, no more early-morning or late-afternoon walks where there pair of you get some good healthy exercise.

What's more, the anonymous author claims to represent the silent majority.   They must be very silent, as anyone who has taken their pet out for a good long walk has probably found that people want to stop and pat them, not ban them from the park altogether.

But what can you do?

The council submissions for the proposed changes have closed.   Thanks to everyone who contributed, informally the council staff have said that they received several hundred submissions, and these were mostly in favor of the existing dog off-leash exercise areas.  This is the not-so-silent majority speaking out to the council and saying 'the existing rules work well, leave them alone or improve them some more!'

But you can still help to let councillors know.

The proposed changes will be voted on by all councillors in the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

You can let your local councillor know.  Even if you don't live in Division 4 (where Buddina is) your councillor will still have a say in the outcome.

Contact your councillor directly via the Sunshine Coast Council website contact form.  

You can still help to let the public know via letters to the Editor.  Do you disagree with the above opinion?  Then let everyone know!

Write a Letter to the Editor via the Sunshine Coast Daily Contact Form.

These two actions will only take 10 minutes to complete, but could alter the outcome of this fight, and let you walk your dog freely forever.

It is vital that everyone who feels passionate about this takes this opportunity to let their voice be heard!

We don't want to tell you what to write - it's important that you do it with your own voice.  But here's some things you might want to think about when you write in:

• We, the dog owners, aren't asking to make the entire Sunshine Coast a dog free-for-all.  We're just asking, at a minimum, that the existing areas allocated for off-leash exercise be kept.  Reducing the off-leash exercise area at Point Cartwright by 70%      Conversely, as our anonymous letter-writer is hoping for, there are people who don't think it appropriate for any dog to be exercised, anywhere, at any time.  The dog-owners are simply asking for balance, which is an entirely reasonable position.
• Contrary to the proposition in the example Letter to the Editor, there is no proposal to exclude dogs from La Balsa park.  A very large number of people choose to picnic in La Balsa park, for the very reason that they are allowed to bring their dog.
• There are at least 30km of beachside walking path and countless parks where you can choose to have a family park visit without seeing any dogs.  People who don't like dogs should choose one of these parks, or at the very least visit La Balsa park during the 8 hours per day when dogs are required to be on a leash.
• People gain enormous health benefit from owning a dog.   You are more likely to get physical exercise and more likely to interact with your community.  Limiting dog exercise areas has the effect of reducing the mental and physical health benefits of owning a dog

Above all, it's vitally important that you come across as a reasonable, agreeable person who understands the needs of others but asks for your needs (and those of your pet) to be considered as well.  Just remember to be polite, respectful and let the facts speak for themselves.  

Thanks for your ongoing support and action, and let's look forward to the day when this issue is settled once and for all!