Cessnock Council has launched a social media campaign to remind residents about the importance of keeping our four-legged friends safe.
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The focus of the campaign, the latest salvo from council’s “With Love Comes Responsibility” pet ownership push, launched last year, is a humourous video that documents a fledgling relationship between two love-struck pooches who meet via a Tinder-style dating app.
However, the video has a sobering twist, reminding viewers how important it is to keep yards secure and pets safe.
“I wanted to start this campaign simply because everything we deal with, there is a starting point and the start point is often the animal getting out of the property,” Council’s ranger team leader Kurt Livens said.
“We do have incidents on private land, but 80 per cent of what we deal with is on public land.”
Mr Livens added that a situation where an animal escapes from a property can have myriad tragic effects.
“Unfortunately all too often when a dog escapes consequences follow,” he said.
Unfortunately all too often when a dog escapes consequences follow.
- Kurt Livens - Cessnock Council ranger team leader
“Your mate might get hit by a car or force a driver to swerve off the road and end up injured in an accident.
“There’s been other incidents where dogs have attacked residents or their neighbour’s pets.”
Mr Livens said that there were many simple things that pet owners can do around the house to ensure that their animal is safe and secure.
“t’s simple things like putting a spring on your gate so it’s self closing or just being mindful of where your animal is when you’re at work,” Mr Livens said.
“Will they have enough water? Will they have enough food? Is the yard secure? Have they got boredom busters if they bark?”
The campaign is urging all pet owners to make sure that they have adequate fencing for the size of their animal, that gates remain locked or shut and that there are not holes or gaps where they can escape.
Further, failure to comply, could mean you are liable for a maximum penalty of $880.
To view the campaign video, visit https://youtu.be/hjdTCEXs6Ww or Cessnock City Council’s Facebook page.
For more information on how best to look after your four-legged friend, visit www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/community/animals/lookingafteryourpet