DOG owners are urged to voice their views on proposed locations for a fenced dog exercise area in the City of Bayswater.
A fenced dog exercise area is a fenced space within a park where dogs can exercise off-lead and may have features such as sand, agility equipment and turf.
After community consultation and a 2018 dog exercise area review, the City reduced the number of potential locations from 170 to 20 parks and reserves.
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READ NOWCrimea Park, Riverside Gardens East and West, Bardon Park, Robert Thompson Reserve and Wotton Reserve are among the potential locations.
The City will only build one dog exercise area.
Councillor Giorgia Johnson, who has two dogs, said she wanted to see fenced areas in every suburb.
“When you first get a dog, you want to train it to be off-leash and get out and socialise with other dogs…doing it in a contained space is helpful,” she said.
“All dogs are different and they like exercising in different ways.”
The Reporter spoke to local dog owners and a dog walker at Riverside Gardens and Crimea Park about the proposal last week.
Dianella resident Stephanie Fahie, who also walked her dog at Riverside Gardens, said it would be a great idea at Riverside as she often brought her dog to fenced areas.
“Especially when there are kids around, it (fenced area) would be a great way for dogs who need it or are not good with children,” she said.
Dog walker and Rivervale resident Ashley Ferguson, who walked dogs at Riverside Gardens and parks in Maylands, said fenced areas gave dogs an opportunity to run free and work on training.
“It is good for some dogs like some friendly dogs that don’t necessarily have the best training,” she said.
“(However), I also find that they can be a little bit of an incubator for problems.”
Morley resident Kai Girvan-Brown, who walked his dog at Crimea Park, said he was not a “fan” of fenced areas.
A survey is available on the Engage Bayswater’s website and in person at the civic centre, Morley, Bayswater and Maylands libraries until December 13.