Dogfights on river: Signs to go after clashes

Alex de Vos
City Hall will pull down “misleading” signs in a riverside recreation area amid rising reports of angry clashes between users confused about whether dogs should be on leashes.
Geelong Dog Activity Walking Group’s Darrel Glessing welcomed the decision but still wanted clearer information about where owners could walk dogs off leashes in council open spaces.
The signs asked users with dogs to “Please keep your dog on a lead” in an off-leash area bordered by the Barwon and Moorabool rivers west of Queen’s Park.
“It’s a good result but we’re still pushing for new signs with proper wording,” Mr Glessing said.
“If the signs are coming down people aren’t going to automatically think you can have your dogs off leashes.”
The walking group called for council to change the “misleading” signs in the Independent last month.
Mr Glessing said he had made several other requests for the change without success.
Conflicts had escalated to area users swearing at each other and people falsely claiming to be police and demanding that owners put dogs on leads, Mr Glessing said.
“What happens if someone does get hurt because of these signs,” he said.
Councillor Stretch Kontelj yesterday admitted the signs were “misleading” because the law stated that owners had the right to have their dogs off leashes in the area if they were under effective control.
“The signs will be removed by the end of the next week and council will continue to monitor the area,” Cr Kontelj said.
“If conflict continues then council will review the situation.”