Family fined $143 over bizarre pet rule
A man was fined $143 while holidaying at a popular Queensland tourist spot because of his pet dog.
One pet owner was fined and others “fled in vessels” after they were intercepted by rangers on K’gari, Fraser Island, with their domestic dogs.
Domestic dogs are banned on the island and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation have a zero-tolerance policy against people who break the rules, Linda Behrendorff, acting senior ranger said.
“The safety of our staff and visitors to K’gari is our number one priority, and rangers make no apology for holding people to account who bring their dogs onto the island,” Behrendorff said.
“Since 2015, QPWS rangers have issued 20 on-the-spot Penalty Infringement Notices to visitors who have broken the no-dog rules.”
Dogs have been long banned on the Island, Behrendorff said, and the rule protects both native and domestic animals.
“In 1991, QPWS banned domestic dogs from the World Heritage area, and the Fraser Coast Regional Council supported QPWS by banning dogs in residential areas,” she said.
“These bans were implemented to protect the wongari (dingo) population from diseases and viruses, and also to protect domestic dogs from being attacked.
“This is not a recent change in legislation, and rangers are frustrated each time a person unlawfully brings a dog onto the island.”
The only dogs permitted are certified support dogs or assistant animals, both which much wear an identifying coat or harness and have an approved badge or tag.
The person who received the fine told rangers that their pet was a “comfort dog”, which is not categorised as a permitted animal on the island.
Certified support dogs must stay on a lead at all times and owners need to provide authorised paperwork.
“As for the people who brought dogs onto the island and fled before being fined, it was clear to rangers that they knew they were breaking the rules,” Behrendorff said.
“Visitors should be aware that K’gari is considered a high-risk area for domestic dogs due to the presence of wongari.”
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