THE off-leash park for large dogs on Kefford Street has become so popular that users are now calling on Bathurst Regional Council to open a second area in the city.
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Council already has 12 designated off-leash areas across the region but Kefford Street is the only fenced area for large dogs.
A second fenced off-leash area for small dogs was developed by council on Kefford Street last year and it is also being well used.
READ MORE: Another space to let dogs run free
Councillor Monica Morse, who regularly takes her pets to the small dogs park, said owners of larger dogs had approached her about the over-crowding.
“There are a lot of big dogs down there so we were having problems with some of the bigger dogs attacking the smaller dogs, so now we have an area for little dogs to run around as well,” Cr Morse said.
“But now there are so many dogs in the big dog area that I have had people asking if council could find another site for a fenced-off area where the dogs could run around.
“There’s currently nowhere like this available in Kelso or Windradyne and in these bigger growing areas of the city I think it’s something to look at.”
Cr Morse said the off-leash areas benefited both the dogs and their owners.
“Dogs are terribly important to people, particularly older people,” she said.
“If those older people are living in units then their dogs are a major part of their social life and going down to the off-leash area gives them the chance to see other people and make friends.
“But the important thing here is that we need fenced areas. They have seats and water down there so the owners can sit down and talk to other people while the dogs are free to run around.”
Cr Morse said she would include a request for a new fenced off-leash area as part of next year’s budget planning process.
“Hopefully our planning people are then able to find a suitable area,” she said.
