New dog laws unleashed

DOG walkers at Lawson Poole Recreation Reserve in Cranbourne are on notice after a Casey Council decision to curtail rollicking animals.
The reserve will become an on-leash area to clear dogs from the running track.
The city has two designated athletics tracks: Edwin Flack Reserve in Berwick and Lawson Poole Reserve.
Both are well fenced and popular free-range exercise areas for dogs. Now both will become on-leash areas.
Clashes between athletes and walkers at Edwin Flack Reserve have led to the council’s risk-management team recommending the new measure, and investigations led to similar findings of safety risk at Lawson Poole.
Casey Little Athletics officials, fearful about safety of children, had protested to the council about members of the public allowing their dogs to run free.
Dogs, too, are at risk, from shot put, discus and javelin.
The council will erect signs to identity the on-leash areas, and local laws officers will enforce the regulations.