Viral $718 council dispute over dogs “looking” through a fence resolved with cheap and easy fix

An ugly, drawn-out battle between a Queensland dog owner and his local council over a bizarre $718 fine has had a surprising development.

A Queensland dog owner has been spared paying a $718 fine to council after they settled a drawn-out dispute over his German shepherds “looking over” his front yard fence.

The Hervey Bay man was handed a noncompliance fine from the Fraser Coast Regional Council in January for ignoring a notice to improve the front fence to ensure the dogs could not escape his property.

In a series of viral TikTok videos, he explained how the dogs had previously escaped the property after learning how to open the electric gate.

Council issued a $287 fine for the dogs “wandering at large” which their owner, who goes by the username The Angry Mechanic, paid and believed had “rectified the situation”.

But two and a half months later, after reportedly securing the fence, a hefty noncompliance fine arrived attached to a picture of the dogs looking through the fence as “proof” of the violation.

The dogs can be seen standing up and looking through gaps at the top of the fence. Picture: TikTok

The Angry Mechanic said the fine was issuied because the dogs could still “protrude” from the fence, and that council had demanded he make the barrier two feet taller.

He had until February 27 to rectify the issue or he could face a fine in excess of $7000, the Fraser Coast Chronicle reports.

But council chief executive Ken Diehm told the publication it was ridiculous to suggest that the fine was because the dogs could see through the fence. He said it was because the owners did not take action to “stop the dog from jumping the fence”.

Mr Diehm said there had been a number of dog attacks in the area and it was important to keep the pets contained.

“I couldn’t care if they put a window in their fence – as long as the dog is contained so it cannot escape and attack someone,” he said.

The German shepherds at the centre of a drawn-out, viral council dispute over a fence. Picture: Supplied.

After a lengthy and very public dispute, the council and The Angry Mechanic have reached an amicable and cheaper conclusion.

The dog owner said on Monday that council had reversed the hefty fine and withdrawn the notice.

“Council rang me today and they’ve withdrawn the fine, withdrawn the noncompliance,” he said on TikTok. “It’s all been resolved now.”

“All I’ve got to do is put a little bit of chicken wire between those holes there (near the top of the fence), which would’ve been a much more reasonable request than a $700 fine.”

A Fraser Coast Regional Council spokesman confirmed that the matter has been resolved.

“Following discussions with the dog owner on actions to improve the fencing, council agreed to waive the fine,” a spokesman said in a statement.

“Council would rather see the funds put into works that will ensure the enclosure is effective, keeping the dogs contained, to remove further opportunity for them to wander.”

News.com.au has approached the dog owner for comment.

Originally published as Viral $718 council dispute over dogs “looking” through a fence resolved with cheap and easy fix