It is understandable, that with so many people and their dogs living on the mountain, we have become more restricted where we can walk them. There are about six of these ‘no dogs’ signs stencilled on the ground and I assume they come from Parks and Wildlife. Dogs are also banned, quite recently, from walking through the school paddock on Holt Street to Curtis Rd. So, what sparked the bans? Or were there a few cumulative factors? It’s ironic because my dogs, over the years were more interested in smelling and finding human food waste and garbage in those same restricted areas. The other issue is that dogs can scare, attack or injure our wildlife.

It seems the biggest risk to our wildlife is road traffic, not a day passes without at least one dead animal. Wildlife was never as balanced and abundant as when dingos lived here. Some older farmers were quite fond of them and they lived well off the avocado farms. What could the original Aborigine owners tell us? Feral dogs helped to cause the dingo demise, yet another human waste, negligence issue.
I have talked to a few people that have more than one dog as company for their other dog. However, some are realising it means double trouble, work and cost. Dogs are social, but their preferred companions are humans, and it is mainly for that reason that they were able to be domesticated.
The Sportsground has welcomed well behaved handlers and dogs, but with signs as reminders to do the right thing – the main one being - pick up your dog’s faeces and have control of your dog. But it’s those few non-compliant dog owners that ruin it for others. Besides, there is usually so much rubbish around, like coffee cups that can serve as great ‘pooper scoopers’ with lids. Some of those little walks we have lost mean not being able to enjoy our still beautiful environment as fully as we did. I personally know people that are frustrated and tired of cleaning up and carrying the mess someone else’s dog left, we need to watch what our dogs are doing. Residential expansion on this small plateau has to stop, it is a constant cycle of ruined roads from heavy trucks and traffic that are constantly being repaired. The standard of lifestyle has already become just a suburb of the Gold Coast.
Pam Brandis
Dip. Canine. Prac.