MILLICENT will soon have a dog park with Wattle Range Council confirming it is scouting appropriate sites.
Council’s current annual business plan and budget allows for a park and the facility is expected to be established by the end of the financial year.
Millicent resident and dog owner Hat Martin supports the plans for a dog park, as her rescue dog Sweetie would be able to learn how to socialise with other dogs safely.
“She can get scared of other dogs and so with a dog park I would be able to first let her see the other dogs socialising through the fence and then slowly assimilate her in with the others,” Ms Martin said.
“Dog parks are an excellent way to do that and I cannot wait for one to be built.”
Ms Martin currently takes Sweetie for walks twice a day and said the dog park would be an additional form of exercise for her pet.
Council general inspector Tim Wilson said the dog park would be an “excellent way” for other dogs to socialise in a safe and secure environment, with pet owners supervising their animals at the site.
“When dogs are exercised it can reduce their bad habits like barking out of boredom and young dogs that learn to properly socialise lessen the risk of aggressive behaviour,” he said.
“It’s an alternative for dog owners who walk their dogs around the road and depending on breed a dog can get their daily exercise just through 10 minutes in a dog park.”
Mr Wilson said the Wattle Range Council also supported dog training, with some independent trainers in the region and licensed working dog trainers being located in Sherwood.
Anyone who is interested in locating dog trainers can contact the Wattle Range Council.
