Dog area causes concern

A Bunbury dog club fears it will cop abuse from angry dog owners when they are forced to share the city's only dedicated fenced-off dog exercise area.

Bunbury and Districts Dog Club is set to move to the Parade Road exercise area in Withers, which has been popular with dog owners since it opened about two months ago.

The plan to move the club from its home at Hay Park has been on the cards for more than 15 years.

While the club won't move to the new exercise area until it can build offices and storage sheds, it will approach the council with its fears of being forced to share the area with members of the public.

Club president Wally Cook told the _Bunbury Herald _that he and his members were afraid they would face conflict with other dog owners because the club's shows and training sessions were likely to take over most of the exercise area.

The club holds three training sessions a week and about six weekend shows and trials a year.

Mr Cook said the council and the club could agree to a lease giving the club exclusive use over the exercise area but he questioned how that would prevent members of the public using it at the same time.

"We can sort of police it while we have an event," Mr Cook said.

"But I know there are people within the area who are using those grounds who will get aggressive if they are told not to go in there."

Mr Cook is also concerned about the prospect that the club's trained dogs - often prized or valuable breeds - could be attacked by other dogs.

Tonight the council is set to discuss a proposal to give the club an in-principle lease over a new facility, which would allow the group to apply for grant funding so it could build offices and storage areas at its new location.

Mayor Gary Brennan said negotiations with the dog club were continuing.