One more sleep

One more sleep. We're really looking forward to a morning with members and their pooches having a good time. All we will be doing is something the majority of dog owners can do - as long as they don't live in a Sydney coastal council. What's the HARM? See you in the morning for a sunny time.

Musings from the morning walk

A long ramble on matters legal resulting from a joyful daybreak walk on the beach with Pema.

10 degrees this morning as Pema and I headed to the beach at daybreak for a 2km walk. I must start a doggie walk BLOG. Every day I am grateful to be able to walk along the sea and watch Pema play with the waves, other dogs and run after seagulls. The chats with other walkers are lovely – before I head back to the office to make those northern beaches councils act sensibly! This morning we met fishers, two runners, one surfer, five little pooches and 2 perfumed women in designer track pants and clean shoes. Discussions were about the gorgeous sunrise, working dogs, how dogs behave better to other dogs when off-lead and of course, how Sydney residents are prohibited from the joy we experience every day on the Central Coast.

Now that Warringah Council has finally admitted what we’ve been telling members since we started (our right to legal assembly), I recall the tremendous effort from a group of Collaroy dog walkers to get a swimming area some years back. Council agreed, and shook hands on it. Then six or so other government agencies got involved, and council reneged – blaming another agency! SO, if council think they have the authority to declare dog and no dog areas under the Local Government Act or Companion Animal Act, why do they bow down to another agency? I mean, you have the authority OR NOT. And if they don’t have the authority to declare a dog beach – then what gives the authority to issue penalty notices for dogs on a beach? Is it in the legislation from these six other authorities that local councils can do this? There is doubt.

And, as I watch Pema the border collie run 300 metres and back along the beach, I wonder how council meets its’ requirement to provide adequate, appropriate and equitable services. The Prevention to Cruelty to Animals Act says we must ensure our pooch has adequate exercise. Current facilities may provide this ability for small or older dogs, but can a rambunctious dog or one from a working background really be adequately exercised in a small off-lead area? There is doubt.

The Right to Choose

For fifteen years Warringah has held out that dogs and beaches don't mix. Now that Barking Mad is putting pressure on them due to our member base in their area, they have said we leave them no choice (to oppose us for challenging their view). Do they have choice? One example comes to mind - how long did urban local governments make it virtually impossible to install a home water catchment tank if the residence had town water. DECADES! And now it's changed......a lesson in this example, perhaps?

Shit on My Shoe

The Campaign for Cleaner Shoes The worldwide movement to eliminate poo from our streets, beaches and parks has come to Australia. Have your say at shit on my shoe.

Promotional Cards Available

Two new brochures available for download - promote Barking Mad to your friends. Click for colour brochure. Click for B & W cards.

the BITE newsletter

the BITE version 2 is now out. Click here.

Dogs in our Environment

Barking Mad supports the work of Warringah Council in raising awareness and providing practical tips at their World Environment Day event. One way Warringah can improve the environment is to allow rate-payers to use their many beaches to exercise and swim their dogs, instead of expecting these ratepayers to drive to Bayview or the Central Coast to enjoy the beach with their dog. Not everyone likes dogs, not everyone likes the beach - a community needs to share; be it time-share or space-share, sharing is required. The Salty Dog's Day Out will not interfere with the events of World Environment Day. We will encourage members to rock up and collect their free poo bags later in the day.

NOT ABOUT DOGS: Warringah has provided good facilities for dogs. We would like to see fenced off-lead areas and agility parks, but Warringah is a 'good' doggie council in many ways. Barking Mad is NOT about dogs. It's about sharing a community resourse with all membes of the community - including the 42% that have dogs as a member of their family.

Rangers Don't Hide or Pounce

Warringah rangers don't hide or pounce. In response to the numerous stories from members, we asked Warringah Council if so called 'Gestapo approaches' were sanctioned. We were told that your reports were 'unfounded' and that 'council rangers conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.' Refreshing to know.

Our Legal Right to Protest

Warringah Council has finally admitted our legal right to assembly - check out the media section for last minute updates. Funny though, they say dogs don't have that right. We agree, in principle, unless of course those dogs belong to us and are with us. Since common sense isn't working, and (owned) 'property' is subject to a range of interpretation, we think it is a matter for the courts to decide. Of course, we still invite Warringah to take their head of the sand and come to the table and be willing to SHARE community resources be it on a time basis or a space basis.
We will be asking them to publish their acknowledgement of our legal assembly as one aspect of making amends to our concerns regarding defamation.

Ranger Acting Professionally?

Warringah Council have accepted our complaint of ranger WCR08 (who they say acted professionally) when he said "get away, don't talk to me. You're crazy, you need psychiatric help” to Barking Mad folks. Aside from slamming the myriad benefits to everyday people of psychiatric help or support during difficult times like grief, Barking Mad expects better from rangers. Read their code of conduct here. Fortunately, our supporters witnessed this, and recorded it, so should Council claim that THIS allegation is unfounded, will truly be unfounded.

Careful Council - not so illegal

Response from Dick Persson, Warringah Administrator received. Mr. Perrson does not agree the first Salty Dog's Day Out was a success - but then he wasn't there, was he? Council still implies there is an illegal element to this legal assembly. We're getting our legal folks on this to clarify the matter with Council. Our next assembly is 27 May.

barkingmad.net.au

www.barkingmad.net.au is now an additional domain name for Barking Mad.

Salty Dogs Date Change

The RSPCA NSW Million Paws Walk is on 20 May. They support us and we want to support them. Therefore, our next Salty Dog's Day Out on the northern beaches of Sydney is delayed a week to 27 May.

Membership Online

You can now sign up for your Barking Mad membership online with your credit card - HOWEVER, some problems have been reported if you have entered your email address previously. It this is the case, email us - thanks.

A Personal Note on Tactics

I think we would be hard pressed to find any lobbyist or business person who doesn't agree that legislation lags behind our current state of knowledge. The recently lifted ban of home water tanks is one example. Unfortunate but true, change in legislation does not come easily. As one council dog officer told me in relation to dogs on the beach "it hasn't changed for the last 15 years and it's never going to.” Aside from the absolute MOTIVATION that comment invites, it is also a sad indication of the view of some people in government.

If things didn't change just because they haven't for the last 15 years, we would not be wearing seat belts, or transporting our children in baby capsules in vehicles. We wouldn’t have air bags, we wouldn’t recycle and we still wouldn’t know what a cappuccino is!

There is no logic in a legislative view that the past dictates the future. Barking Mad is set up to challenge and change the legislation that puts unjust restrictions on responsible pet owners. We accept that some people don’t want a change and that will always be the case with every situation. A diverse community does not work by consensus. If you don’t like dogs, don’t want them on ‘your’ beach or at your café, we accept your opinion and choice. Personally, for most of my life I would not have been seen as ‘dog-person’. Obviously my view has changed, and through this change, I accept (but may not fully understand) people who are not keen on dogs or other pets.

As membership increases, the tactics of lobbying become more varied. Not all members want to participate in a legal assembly. Some want more demonstrations such as dogs outside of parliament house (now there's an idea!), some want a class action against penalty notices and some want to be a quiet supporter or a poll-taker.

I greatly appreciate all your views and opinions, especially that you have taken the time to make contact or otherwise get your voice heard. Now, if you've got a campaign you want to run, do get in touch. Thanks, Eedra

Ruff Justice: Our successful event

Our Legal Right to Protest

We've had our final check-in with the NSW Police. They are the regulatory authority for the assembly we are holding; we assemble under state law, not council. Our right to assemble does not take away council's right to issue infringement notices for council's regulations. Because we are actively challenging council’s interpretation of several NSW laws, infringement notices are a possibility. Remember that Barking Mad will challenge these if issued to Barking Mad members. If you are not a member, you can sign up on the day.

We expect participants to sign in, read, understand and abide by the terms and conditions of the assembly, and wear the name badge provided at registration.

We expect good behaviour from you & your dog/s. Silly as it is, ‘earning’ back our rights to public space by demonstrating responsible behaviour (even though many of our rights were removed with doubtful due-process decades ago) may be a quicker way to regain our non-criminal status back in society than a protracted court challenge. If your pooch isn’t acting how you would like, take appropriate action such as putting it on a short lead or removing it. Be sensible, be cautious, respectful, helpful and HAVE FUN.

**Two dogs mauled, violent attack on police and two rangers still missing**. This is NOT the headline we want. The media has been known to exaggerate. Our society tolerates assaults on people by other people, crimes against property including graffiti, drunken and disorderly behaviour, littering and speeding a lot more than it tolerates one dog protecting its space against another animal – these are the facts, be they logical or not.

Our analogy to Sydney's ban of dogs on beaches is this: people exceed the posted speeds on roads in their cars, yet they don't ban all of us from driving. So why do they ban us all from the beach because some people 'exceed the speed'? It's nonsensical. Once again, we do not support Ranger Anger. From my discussions with participants over the last week, I acknowledge there is a lot of frustration at the chosen priorities of northern beaches rangers to issue notices for dog offences.

I've also heard that many people think the ban of dogs on beaches is state wide - it's not! I live one hour north and 90% of our beaches are dog beaches (some on lead, some off lead), and yes, it's an urban area. See you on Salty Dog's Day Out, until then, enjoy your companions!

Manly Daily Media Response

Masses of people are willing to stand up for their rights to our community facilities. With the registrations, we have heard some very sad stories. One of a man in his senior years who walked his elderly pooch daily at about .5k/hour (off lead) and was repeatedly fined, even though the pooch wouldn't leave his side.

We were told of another story of a man who has lost his drivers license & therefore his livelihood due to an unpaid pooch fine. What harm are we causing with our dogs? We were told by several people of a disturbing event witnessed by members of a dog-friendly surf club. They saw at ranger run after a woman walking her dogs early in the morning on an empty beach - she got a fine for each of her dogs! (Three x $330 - insanity).

Barking Mad will support members who cop fines for responsible (but illegal) dog behaviour by challenging these in court.

We have also been told of rangers hiding in the bushes ready to ambush those who dare to put paw to sand. With these stories, it's difficult to not harbour hostility towards rangers; however, despite apparent Gestapo tactics, they are doing their job. Barking Mad does not support Ranger Anger. We do support dog owners knowing their rights and are quite convinced our legal rights are more then most people may currently believe.

Politicians & Salty Dogs Day Out

Barking Mad Salty Dogs Day out published in the Manly Daily and the Northern Beach Weekender. The Mayor of Pittwater sends his apologies for not being able to attend Salty Dogs Day Out. The member elect, Rob Stokes sends his apologies as he will be at Mona Vale Surf Club. Rob is supporting the new doggie beach in Pittwater.

Manly Council Meeting

Barking Mad invited by the chair of the companion animals committee, Mayor Peter Macdonald, to address Manly Council on 9th May 2007.