Janet Mays

2 Comments For This Post

1. Ann Lenehan Says:
   May 6th, 2008 at 5:37 pm

   Dear Janet,
   I am writing to you concerning the “Draft Companion Animals Management Plan (cats and dogs) 2008 - 2011″ BMCC.
   There are a couple of concerns in this document pp4, 5, 9, 14.
   P4 last para.
   …… - Dogs found in prohibited places such as child care centres,children’s play areas, food preparation and consumption areas (unless in a road reserve)public bathing areas and parks / recreational areas so indicated as prohibiting dogs……

   Firstly can we have a definition of ‘road reserve’?? This is the beginning of eradicating the family dog/s from having a coffee/cuppa up the shops when you take it for a lead controlled walk and meet friend/s for a drink. It has become an ever increasingly popular habit for people in Springwood to sit outside on the footpath and have a cuppa with the dog/s sitting quietly next to them.
   p4 Secondly does this mean that we can not take our dog (on lead) to the park with the children while they play, or to watch them at their local sports fixtures, or to places such as Wenty Lake in the summer when the family goes for a dip. Fair enough they aren’t leash free zones but where do we get to take the dog on a family picnic or the aforementioned activities when it is on a lead and under supervised control on lead??????????????????
   p5 ‘…..not adversely impact on neighbours and in public places.’ What does this statement mean? The open interpretation can be as wide or narrow as takes the personal bias of the council employee dealing with such matters. The BMCC has not shown a particularly positive bias in favour of dogs with many many issues to date. Why would dog owners think that they will show one with the definition of ‘adversely’?????????
   p9 ‘ The mere presence of cats and dogs…..” Come on, I have bushland at the rear of my house and have never smelt or seen foxes in the area. Although I have seen echidnas, snakes, wallabies etc and I have 3 dogs. What about the rubbish dumps with the domestic garbage……. wouldn’t they pose more of a threat to native flora and fauna by encouraging the presence of foxes and vermin???
   p14(prohibits)’In or within 10 metres……..’ Can no longer walk down Macquarie St Springwood, Hawkesbury Rd or Ellison Rd near the school
   and many other areas I am sure…….. This can’t surely be a serious consideration. Although I do unfortunately fear it is.
   p14(prohibits) ‘Recreation and……..’again as outlined above on the p4 comments.

   I hope that you will, if not already, obtain a copy of this document and give serious consideration to these matters. There may be more concerns that you will pick up on when you peruse the doc. I will be raising these concerns in my comment to the BMCC but thought that you would have more influence and eloquence on behalf of the speechless cats and dogs of the Blue Mountains. “Blue” being the operative word when it comes to being a cat or dog or owner of same in this council area. It is also in contrast to ‘…responsible pet ownership….being encouraged…’ when you are becoming so restricted in where and when you can take you dog for exercise, play, socialisation eetc etc

   Thank you for your time.

   Regards,
   Ann J Lenehan

2. admin Says:
   May 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm

   Hello Ann

   Thank you for your comment and for airing these important issues. As the owner of 3 cats and 2 dogs, I totally agree with your concerns regarding this draft management plan.

   I will be submitting my comments to Council this week and urge others to do the same.

   Could you please send me your email address via my email info@janetmays.com, so that we can further correspond on this matter.

   Regards

   Janet

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