Aussies are being slugged “eye-watering” fines for not having a pet on a leash or not properly maintaining control of the leash, under a new state based crackdown. Two residents on the Gold Coast have taken to A Current Affair to share their stories about large fines issued under the regulations. Under new pet ownership laws that came into effect on July 31, if residents do not keep a dog under effective control when in a public place, there is an on-the-spot fine of $806 with further fines of up to $112,910 for more serious dog attack offences as well as up to three years imprisonment.
“Changes were made to the AMCDA due to a rise in complaints about aggressive dogs and dog attacks, and the large number of dog-attack victims admitted to hospital each year in Queensland,” the Queensland government said in a statement online. While the laws are state based, it is up to the discretion of individual councils to enforce the fines. Retiree John lives a few minutes away from Budd’s Beach, a tiny stretch of sand on the canal at Surfers Paradise.
He was recently fined $806 for “failure to exercise effective control of a non regulated dog in a public place”, after walking his dog an estimated 10 metres from his van to the water where the pair kayak. “I thought that it was very unfair as I was only travelling from my van to the water” John said. “If I didn’t pay it in 28 days, I would be charged extra.
” There are signs further up on Budd’s Beach saying dogs mu.