Park for dogs

By Bridget Brady
CRANBOURNE residents should make the most of a fenced off park for dogs to stretch their legs, a Cranbourne West resident says.
City of Casey council has recently upgraded Harry Street Reserve in Cranbourne giving dog owners the chance to let their pets off leash.
Shaun Blamire has taken his dog, Fraser, to the park a couple of times and encouraged people to use the facility so it may be made a permanent one for dogs.
“I walk my dog almost every day and it’s nice for them to get a proper run around at least once a week,” Mr Blamire said.
“Hopefully we can get a few more people down there. It is a nice big area and it looks pretty good. Anything is better than having dogs cooped up in the backyard.”
City of Casey manager of city living Richard Amon said Harry Street Reserve was not an official dog park, rather an off-leash reserve. Mayfield Ward councillor Amanda Stapledon, who campaigned for a dog park, welcomed the off-leash area.
“An unleashed area provides a safe area for dogs to have a run around and socialise without the risk of running on the road and being hit by a car,” Cr Stapledon said.
“I tool my two dogs to the park on the weekend and it was sensational. I hope local residents try the park and provide feedback to me.”
Mr Amon said the council would monitor the new fence to see if it could be installed at other parks in the municipality.
The council said it was the responsibility of dog owners to ensure they had control of their dogs at all times when off-leash.