An elderly Melbourne woman has been fined for leaving her dog unrestrained on her property.
The 79-year-old was fined for breaking a local government rule after a neighbour reported her.
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A photo of Judy Murphy’s five-year-old Maltese shi tzu named Clarrie, on the front driveway of her Sandringham home was sent to Bayside City Council.
“I was issued a fine of $288 because he was off lead,” Murphy told 7NEWS.
In the photo, Clarrie can be seen in a communal driveway at the housing complex.
“He wasn’t going anywhere,” Murphy said.
“He was just looking for his mates, I think.
“He’s my best little mate and wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
One neighbour said Murphy being fined is “totally unreasonable” while another said she should have received a warning only, but did need to secure her dog.
In a statement, Bayside City Council defended the fine.
“Council issued an infringement notice to a dog owner after receiving multiple complaints about a dog not being securely confined to the owner’s premises,” it said.
“Allowing a dog to roam in an unfenced front yard or unsecured open area is an offence against the Domestic Animals Act,” it said.
“The dog owner had been spoken to multiple times and was aware her dog needed to be secured to the property to prevent injury, nuisance or attacks.”
The neighbour who made the official complaint said he had spoken to Murphy several times about Clarrie before taking the matter further.
He declined to comment on camera, but told 7NEWS he was satisfied with the penalty.
Online, the reaction was divided.
An “absolute council overreach”, wrote one Facebook user.
“Absurd,” said another.
“There’s so many wrongs here, and none of them by that woman or her little dog”.
While a third agreed with the law saying: “Many issues are caused by ‘sweet little dogs’ that are not under control.”
-With Sonia Marinelli
