West Beach resident’s push to have dog leash laws changed along Adelaide beaches

Dog owners calling for rules requiring dogs to be on leads along Adelaide’s western beaches to be relaxed say “common sense” must be applied.

A petition is being circulated with the aim of less restrictive dog leash laws in Adelaide’s west. Picture: File, Jake Nowakowski

Dog owners are calling for a “common sense” approach to dog leash laws along Adelaide’s western beaches through a petition to have the rules revised.

West Beach resident Felicia Correll started the petition, which has drawn about 300 signatories online at change.org as well as 100 hard copy signatures.

Mrs Correll believed the current times dogs are required to be on leads on beaches in the Charles Sturt Council area were overly strict.

The council rules state dogs must be on leads of 2m or less while on the foreshore between 10am and 8pm during the daylight savings period – approximately October to April.

“This is a strict and unnecessary rule that meets the needs of very few of the community,” Mrs Correll said.

“Wanting dogs on a lead for three months of the year, in the busy school holidays/summer time is fair enough.

But in other months, it can be just me and a few other dog walkers on the beach (at West Beach).”

Petitioner Felicia Correll is seeking less restrictive dog leash laws. Picture: File, Jake Nowakowski

Mrs Correll believes dogs should be required to be controlled by their owner but not required to be on a leash on West Beach, south of the Torrens River, and also between Brighton and Somerton.

“These beaches do not become as crowded as beaches like Henley and Grange,” she said.

“On all other Charles Sturt beaches, dogs should be required to be on a leash between 11am and 7pm every day over the summer months – December to February.”

She is also calling for council dog patrols to focus on dog owners managing aggressive dogs and ensuring dog owners pick up after their dogs.

Charles Sturt council declined to comment on the petition.

Both Charles Sturt and Port Adelaide Enfield council have partnered up during the current daylight savings period for a beach dog patrol program operating across both council areas.

The aim of the partnership was to provide a consistent approach to the regulation of dog leash laws across the foreshore.

Anyone wanting to sign the petition online can find it here.