A dog walker has hit back at a council for “unfairly attacking” him in a “money grab” after he was fined for walking too many dogs in an off-leash area.
Watch Pets owner Ron Buch was fined $960 by Melbourne’s City of Port Phillip after walking 10 dogs off-leash near St Kilda’s waterfront in December last year.
The frustrated dog walker said he had noticed the council had cracked down on his profession over the past two years.
The matter was taken to Melbourne Magistrates Court, where Mr Buch’s company pleaded guilty to walking too many dogs without a permit.
“I’ve been walking dogs for over 20 years and have never had a problem,” Buch said. Herald of the Sun off the court.
Mr Buch said other dog walking companies had been forced to close due to financial problems.
Dog walkers in the Port Phillip council area must have a permit if walking more than seven dogs at a time.
Mr Buch had a permit, but violated the condition that dogs must remain on a leash at all times, even in off-leash areas.
Ron Buch (pictured) of Watchpets was fined $960 for walking 10 dogs off-leash in a permitted off-leash area.
Port Phillip City Mayor Heather Cunsolo said Buch was caught with the 10 dogs off-leash in an off-leash area.
“We implemented the permit last year after community members raised concerns about commercial dog walkers’ ability to control large numbers of dogs in public spaces, including off-leash areas,” Cunsolo said.
The Port Phillip City area is patrolled daily by council workers to ensure dog walkers and other permit holders comply with the rules in place.
Ms. Cunsolo said the patrols ensure spaces remain “safe, clean and pleasant.”
He added that council workers do not specifically target particular categories of dog walkers and that both businesses and individuals are subject to the council’s rules.
The council initially fined Mr Buch $960, but the Port Phillip City Attorney sought costs of $1,200 when Mr Buch took the case to court.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court reduced the fine to $200 and ordered Mr Buch to pay it plus $150 in costs.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court ordered Mr Buch to pay $350 after hearing his permit only allowed him to walk up to seven dogs off-leash, even in off-leash areas.
Mr Buch said he was confused about the conditions of his permit and believed dogs were allowed to run off-leash in off-leash areas.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the City of Port Phillip and Mr Buch for comment.
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