Council rangers are stepping up patrols in response to rising complaints about dog behaviour in the Byron Shire.
"Council wants to make it clear that dog owners are responsible for the behaviour of their animals," Council's Manager Public & Environmental Services, Sarah Nagel said.
"If you take your dog to a prohibited area or your dog is not on a lead when it's supposed to be - you will be fined," Ms Nagel said.
"If your dog will not reliably come when called, it should not be let off the lead at our designated off-lead areas around the Shire, or anywhere else.
"As the owner or carer of a dog, and as a dog walker, you are liable for the actions of the dogs under your control and you can be prosecuted and even jailed if injuries are caused by your dogs," Ms Nagel said.
"We've learned recently about the high numbers of dog attacks in the last quarter of 2022 across NSW - as reported by the Office of Local Government - and our message is that people need to take their responsibilities as dog owners seriously – or you could be putting other dogs and people's lives at risk.
"Ultimately, we want off-lead areas to be safe and friendly places for dogs, their owners and the general public.
"The majority of dog owners are doing the right thing but it's a small percentage of people who are ruining it for everyone else and creating dangerous situations on our beaches.
"If you have any immediate safety concerns, please do not hesitate to contact police directly. We also encourage all dog incidents to be reported to Council so that they can be responded to," she said.
List of Off-Lead Rules to Remember when taking your dog to the beach:
- Know the on-lead, off-lead and prohibited dog areas or you could get a fine – they're all on Council's website and it's your responsibility to know where you can and can't go before you get to the beach.
- Do you have voice control over your dog? If your dog won't reliably come when called, they are not ready to be off a lead.
- Don't let your dog run up to another dog. Check with its owner first to see if your dog can say hello.
- Respect other people's space and put your dog on a lead when arriving and leaving the off-lead dog beach.
- Take a bag and pick up your dog's poo and place in bins provided. Do not leave on beach.
Find out everything you need to know about being a responsible dog owner from Council's website: Dog owner responsibilities - Byron Shire Council (nsw.gov.au)
