Council’s undercover dog squad

BY ROJE ADAIMY

City of Sydney Council has resorted to sending their Rangers undercover to catch irresponsible dog owners not picking up after their pets.
From mid-July, plain-clothed Rangers will be on the prowl across a number City parks and reserves issuing $275 on-the-spot fines to those who don’t clean up their dog’s waste ‘ particularly during the mornings and evenings.
“The vast majority of dog owners understand that part of being a responsible owner is picking up after your dog and most carry bags with them or use free bags available in parks,” City of Sydney’s director of city services, Garry Harding said. “Unfortunately a small percentage still don’t get the message.”
The Council would not say how many of their 120 Rangers would go undercover, but said it would be more than likely it would become part of regular activities.
“Uniformed Rangers have found dog owners are generally responsible during patrols, but some irresponsible dog owners change their behaviour when Rangers leave,” Mr Harding said.
One dog owner, who regularly walks his pet poodle in Glebe Foreshore Park, said that it’s nothing more than a revenue-raising initiative.
“Charging people $275 without warning is just a way for Council to make more money,” he said. “And it makes all of us good and responsible dog owners look bad.”
According to a Council spokesperson, the Rangers will hand out flyers advising dog walkers of their responsibilities under Section 20 of the Companion Animals Act 1998, which states that the person in charge of a dog must immediately remove its faeces and properly dispose of them.
The City manages around 350 parks including 33 that are off-leash full-time.