To close this chapter, we look briefly at some of the practicalities of achieving restraint compliance.

We have already outlined a strategic planning process for dog-friendly parks in Chapter 5 as an example of strategic planning. The comments below refer to a wider strategy, dogs-at-large, but touch on many of the same issues.

Before asking PMOs to act on a dog-at-large issue, the councilís strategy needs to be clearly defined. Some important planning issues that will need to be resolved will include:

ï community expectation

ï mission

ï legislation

ï implementation resources

ï community resources

The whole idea of this planning process is to get the best result possible within the framework of existing constraints. Provided all the council policy stakeholders (eg. PMOs, councillors, administrative officers, town planners and park management personnel) are fully included, the strategy should be able to start on a functional footing.

Once the strategic planning has been completed, the job then goes to the PMOs to make it happen. Provided they have been intimately involved in the planning process, these officers can get on with the job with confidence. They will have a strong sense of ownership of the strategy and they will be clear about both policy and process.

For further insights, click to see:

ï More about the strategic approach to restraint practicalities

The characteristics of restraint laws are no different from other MPM legislation: they should be definitive, meaningful, reasonable, validatable, and enforceable.

Voluntary compliance measures such as community education can reduce the number of dogs-at-large. Nevertheless, PMOs will always need to deal with some dogs-at-large. This requires experience and skill.

Enforcement practicalities include managing PMO concerns such as:

ï Surveillance

ï Catch it or follow it home?

ï Finding where it lives

ï Catching

ï Pound admittance

For further insights, click to see:

ï More about enforcement (surveillance, catch or follow, ownership, pound admittance)

ï Catching dogs - some tricks of the PMO's trade

For PMOs to deal effectively with dogs-at-large they need equipment and skills as outlined above. But they also need two administrative supports:

1. access to the registration database system

The database system should have the following features specifically related to restraint issues:

ï direct access

ï transaction type to add a non-dog-owning client

ï transaction type to allow search by animal

ï individual login

ï activity item coding

ï history linking capability

ï history add transaction

ï auto-merge capability

2. clear administrative procedures for dealing with dogs-at-large, not under control, or in a prohibited area.

If the PMO team has a laptop, they may be able to complete almost all administrative procedures in the field. Usually procedures will take place both on the street and at the office.

 

For further insights, click to see:

ï More about access to the registration database

ï More about clear administrative procedures

ï Flowchart of a simple dog-at-large administrative system 

ï Practicalities: planning a pet park