Dog safety week: shut the gate
This Dog Safety Week we are reminding people to always keep your dog safely enclosed on your property - no matter how friendly or well-behaved your dog is.
Each year, Sunshine Coast Council receives around 1,000 reports of roaming dogs. Dogs escaping from open doors, garages, or gates left open, are the leading causes of dog attacks and menacing complaints received by Council.
If your dog is out roaming, they could also become lost or even be hit by a car!
Dog parent and Managing for Growth Portfolio Councillor Winston Johnston said this week Council is running an important dog safety campaign to encourage residents to remember their pet ownership responsibilities.
“Owning a pet comes with a lot of positives, but it also comes with important responsibilities to your dog and your community,” Cr Johnston said.
“This Dog Safety Week we are reminding people to always keep your dog safely enclosed on your property - no matter how friendly or well-behaved your dog is.
“Even friendly dogs can get excited when new people - like delivery drivers - come to your house.
“Your dog can jump and scratch, or lick and bite, which can be confronting and harmful to the visitor.
“Keeping your dog safely enclosed on your property, or on a lead - unless in a designated off lead area - ensures their safety, as well as the safety of other people and animals.”
Dog lover and Managing for Growth Portfolio Councillor Christian Dickson said that although most Sunshine Coast residents do the right thing, 604 roaming dogs were impounded last financial year.
“Council takes community safety very seriously and Council had 318 dog attacks, and 423 menacing incidents reported last financial year, with 14 attacks involving children under 12,” Cr Dickson said.
“My dogs are too important to me to risk not securing them on my property.
“They both very friendly and well trained but if a car backfired, another dog barks, or a bird were to fly past - I couldn’t predict how they would react to the unexpected.
If the gate was open, they might instinctively respond or run into traffic.
“Let’s work together to keep our pets, people and wildlife safe.
“Protect your mate and shut the gate,” Cr Dickson said.
Dog Safety Week Pop-up Booths
This Dog Safety Week, Council’s Response Services Team will be out and about at popular dog-friendly locations to answer your questions and share tips on:
- Keeping your pet’s registration up to date
- Understanding off-leash areas
- Managing barking dog concerns
- Protecting local wildlife.
You can take home a pet safety bag filled with fun and educational activities for kids.
Plus, discover ‘Leave It’, a free dog training app designed to help owners teach their dogs to avoid wildlife. Learn more at leaveit.com.au.
| Location | Date | Time |
| Stumer Creek (dog off leash beach), Coolum | Monday 20 Oct | 7am-9am |
| Elizabeth Daniels dog off leash park, Buderim | Tuesday 21 Oct | 3.30pm-5.30pm |
| Mooloolaba Spit, Mooloolaba | Wednesday 22 Oct | 7am-9am |
| La Balsa Park, Parkyn Pde, Buddina | Thursday 23 Oct | 7am-9am |
| Buhk Family Park, Alexandra Headland | Friday 5 July | 3.30pm-5.30pm |
Maleny Showgrounds, Maleny *Tickle Park, David Low Way, Coolum Beach | Saturday 25 Oct Saturday 25 Oct | 8am-10am 2pm-4pm |
| *Ballinger Beach (dog off leash beach), Currimundi | Sunday 26 Oct | 7am-9am |
Weekend Highlights
Saturday 25 October*
- Join the Behaviour Change Team for ‘Leave It’ Wildlife Avoidance Training.
- Meet Coolum & North Shore Coast Care for expert advice on turtle care and protecting local wildlife.
Sunday 26 October*
- Chat with TurtleCare volunteers about the upcoming nesting season.
- Learn from AES about keeping dogs healthy and safe.
This dog safety week - Protect your mate, shut the gate! Find more information about Responsible Dog Ownership on Council’s website.