Dog owner in tears after $800 fine for simple lead mistake: 'This isn't ethical'

A struggling small business owner has hit out at her local council after she was slapped with an $806 fine after a seemingly innocent act with her pet dog. Retail shop owner Robyn was taking a quick coffee break outside her store Whit and Watt at Moffat Beach on Queensland's Sunshine Coast when she was approached by council workers.

Council allege the eight-year-old Blue Heeler, Violet, was not under effective control in a public place because the dog was sat by Robyn's feet and her lead was dangling off the pet owner's foot instead of being held in her hand.

Robyn says she felt "victimised" when council officers approached her, and was told at the time she would not be issued a fine, only a warning. Days later, she was stunned to receive the $806 fine.

"I've got a small business and I'm struggling with that, and the council hits you with this," Robyn told Yahoo News Australia. "[Violet] was on lead, had a collar on, she was underneath my foot."

Speaking about the incident, Robyn explained she was approached by council workers who told her that the lead needed to be in her hand, not by her foot. Startled by the dark figures standing above her owner, deaf dog Violent barked at the council workers. The interaction ended with the workers telling Robyn they would need to speak to their supervisor to decide what action would be taken.

Robyn, who argues she was on her premises and not in a public area, says she phoned the council the next day and was told that she would be getting just a warning. She couldn't believe it when days later a fine came through.

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Struggling business owner left 'bawling eyes out'

Robyn rang the council back and through tears, sought clarification. "This isn't ethical," she said. She even reached out to the local mayor over the matter.

"I will not pay it," Robyn said. "If I have to I’ll go to court, I'll take the dog with me."

"I've been going through a lot of financial stress so it's easy for me to break down and bawl my eyes out because I'm trying to keep my shop afloat," she said. Robyn told Yahoo she's been having to work seven days a week as she cannot afford staff to work in the store.

Major crackdown on dog laws

Robyn argues that all dog owners need "clear clarification" on the rules. "A lot of people have the lead under their foot," she said. "People need to be aware of what they are and aren't entitled to do. It's like a driving offence, it needs to be made clear to the public."

The move comes just weeks after the Queensland Government began a statewide crackdown on dog laws on July 31 — with increased penalties and even jail time for bad behaviour from dogs and their owners.

Sunshine Coast Council states on its website: "The Queensland Government has updated the penalty for not effectively controlling your dog in a public place. An on-the-spot fine will increase to $806. This includes having a dog off-leash in an on-leash area. Or, if the dog is in an off-leash area, the owner must be able to control the dog using voice command."

Aussies react to hefty dog fine

Those in the area were divided over the issue, with some reaching out to Robyn with messages of support, while others argued that council were in the right.

"Your dog is so cute, we walk past with our dogs and it never moves, never barks! Council need to get a bloody life," said one local resident.

"Not great about the warning switching to a fine," pointed out a second.

Others said it was her "responsibility" to handle her dog correctly in a public space.

"Councils are terrible when it comes to dogs. I’m in a different area, but I'm behind you," said another.

Sunshine Coast Council was approached for comment by Yahoo on the matter.

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