New Direction in Municipal Dog Control

Richard Murray

Abstract

The justification for and scope of a current research project involving new municipal dog control measures in Townsville and Brisbane are outlined. Five main research objectives are identified. Preliminary results of Townsville based work on one of these objectives involving public education about responsible dog ownership are presented and discussed. A practical public education measure described in this paper showed consistently positive results in assisting Council animal control officers to reduce community tension caused by nuisance dogs.

About the author

Richard Murray BVSc MSc FAVA
Western Suburbs Veterinary Clinic
Thuringowa Drive
KIRWAN
AUSTRALIA 4817
Phone (077)73 4115
Fax (077)23 1043

Even 15 years ago when I was practising as a veterinarian in the field of companion animal medicine and surgery, it seemed clear that suboptimal urban animal management was bad for people and bad for pets.

While council problems associated with pet animals seemed to be almost universal both in Australia and overseas, there also seemed to be a depressing sort of learned helplessness about how to remedy these problems. Lots of people could point out what was going wrong. But nobody seemed to know what to do about it.

At the time my interest was initially sparked in this subject, Townsville City Council had a supportive Chief Health Surveyor (P. Foxwell). The Council also had an active and progressive city council led initially and subsequently by mayors M. Reynolds and T. Mooney respectively. Working on the subject of dog control in Townsville, I completed an MSc degree by thesis in 1991 at James Cook University with the financial support of the Townsville City Council.

The paper presented here is about work that followed from my original research. I am delighted to say that other institutions, notably the Brisbane City Council and the Petcare Information and Advisory Service are now involved with this study and are supporting the Townsville initiative.

The learned helplessness I referred to above is gradually being replaced by a general enthusiasm about finding better ways to integrate pets in society.

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