An animal control officer has blasted Wollongong City Council’s ‘‘total negligence’’ over a dangerous dogs policy he says could lead to deaths.
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NSW Animal Services boss Wayne Asplet has worked in animal control for 32 years with nine councils around NSW, and with Wollongong council for two years as a contractor.
His staff are permitted by other councils to enter private property to restrain or secure dangerous dogs, but not in Wollongong.
He said Wollongong council interpreted the Companion Animals Act to mean subcontractors could not enter private property – the only council he had worked with to give such a ‘‘stupid, very narrow’’ interpretation.
‘‘We can catch dogs in the street, but once it goes onto property, we have to wait for a ranger,’’ Mr Asplet said.
‘‘Wollongong council is more worried about me going over fence, than a human life in a dog attack. It’s ridiculous.’’
Mr Asplet spoke to the Mercury after details emerged of a savage dog attack at Bellambi Beach on November 18, where a mother suffered serious bites while protecting her child from a pack of five dogs walking off-leash.
Wollongong council said there were 242 reported dog attacks in 2013, a 48 per cent leap from 2012.
Mr Asplet said such attacks might have been avoided if his staff could do ‘‘proactive’’ work such as identifying problem dogs, or requesting owners to better secure their yards.
‘‘Wollongong has more big hunting cross-breed dogs than other areas. It is pretty wild, and a lot of people don’t obey laws,’’ he said.
‘‘If we can’t be proactive like we’ve been trying to do ... there will be more deaths.’’
Cr Vicki Curran has called on the council to alter its interpretation, to allow animal control staff to work more effectively.
‘‘We have seen numerous attacks. To do nothing puts council at risk,’’ she said.
‘‘There needs to be a blitz, so people know council is taking action and won’t tolerate dangerous dogs or owners not in control.’’
A council spokesman said the council’s interpretation of the Companion Animals act came after ‘‘advice from the Office of Local Government,’’ and that more than 2000 notices relating to animal control were issued in the 2013-14 financial year.
In the Bellambi incident, the council fined the owner $1650 for not having the dogs under effective control, the spokesman said.