Pet etiquette? How about fines for parents of badly behaved children?

So, I’m on an off-lead dog beach, a rare haven in Sydney, where man’s best friend is allowed a modicum of freedom of movement and my Frenchie Roxy and I couldn’t be happier. There are similarly excited pooches and their owners everywhere, running for balls, jumping in waves, just loving life sick.

Having a pet can be a saviour for the lonely and yet pet-owners continue to bear the brunt of “etiquette” laws.Credit: SMH

Then, amid the mutt mayhem, a family with kids arrives and sets up a picnic right smack bang in the middle of the action. Suddenly, an unsupervised toddler wanders off towards my Roxy, squeals loudly then proceeds to awkwardly cuddle, poke and test her unwavering patience.

The parents see what’s happening and call for the toddler to come back, but they are ignored because, well, it’s a kid and that’s what kids do. Next thing you know, they are in my face screaming at me to get my dog away from their child and threatening to report me for being unable to “maintain effective control” of my animal.

Yep, you heard it, report me for their child approaching my dog on an off-lead beach! Now, I don’t think you have to be Nostradamus to predict my reaction. I was incensed. In fact, the only thing that stopped me going completely postal back at them was the sight of a large labrador attacking their picnic while they had a go at me.

I ended up leaving the beach that day because I know that as a dog owner, I have little to no rights. The parents who couldn’t “maintain effective control” of their child behaving like, well, a kid, will always win. And I am frankly tiring of it. Surely, we owners should get a break for the temerity of having a dog that acts as, well, a dog in a space allocated for just that.

It appears that’s not about to happen. In fact, things are likely to get worse with news that some NSW councils are pushing to increase fines and penalties on owners. This isn’t trivial, considering the maximum fine a NSW council can issue is $330 for breaking off-leash walking rules, while not picking up after your dog is $275. Waverley Council is even going as far as advocating for dog owners to attend pet ownership training.

I wonder how the public would react if the same penalties were placed on parents of unruly children? A misbehaving child in a restaurant, say $250? A child screaming on a plane, well, now that would be a revenue earner …

The reality is these councils pushing for extra penalties should do some homework to get an accurate gauge on its constituents’ wants, needs and lifestyles. Birth rates in this country are declining and the reality is that, like the UK, more and more Australians are actively making a lifestyle choice to “parent” a dog rather than a biological child – and I am unashamedly one of them. My life, my choice. I have no complaints; regardless of what others may think. I don’t disrespect those who choose to have children and, as such, wouldn’t mind a bit of respect and grace coming back my way for my choices.

You see, I am far from alone in choosing to fulfil my maternal urge to nurture a life by raising Roxy. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia’s birth rate hit a record low in 2023 with a fertility rate of 1.5 babies per woman, a figure widely reported as being at a “critical level”.

Add to this the ABS statistic that one-quarter of households are now occupied by one person, up from 18 per cent in 1981. Which means a hell of a lot of people may look to four-legged companions to stave off loneliness; an epidemic in this country with its effects linked to issues such as mental illness, suicide, dementia and premature death. In fact, the cost of loneliness on Australian taxpayers is estimated at about $2.7 billion, or $1565 for each person per year.

Let’s face it, having a pet can be a saviour for the lonely, not just because it guarantees company, affection and physical touch (show me a dog lover who doesn’t relish cuddles), but also because it puts people in contact with other dog owners. So, let’s remember the positive effects that dogs bring to communities when enforcing more restrictions and penalties on owners.

I reckon I can guarantee most of us who regard pets as kids have no qualms in supporting parents of human children with our tax dollars going to education, childcare and other subsidies we will never require. I can also attest nearly all of us pick up poo and use a leash when required. Yes, there are some bad eggs, but not all people parents are perfect either.

So, it would be nice to have a bit of support for our life choices too – how we give and receive love. And while we are doing so, let’s remember that dogs, like humans, are not infallible. If you don’t want to be around them at play, then you have plenty of choices to go elsewhere. They, unfortunately in NSW, don’t.

Wendy Squires is a writer and author.