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“It tipped upside down and then they were jumping … on top of the pram, and the babies were underneath.”
Sarah’s twins, who are now aged four, playing in a park. Source: Supplied
Since then, the sight of dogs in public has caused terror for the twins, now aged four.
“It’s made me quite anxious about being in public with my twins, in case we come across a dog.”
‘An obligation to work the dog’
“I don’t know how your dog is going to react. I don’t know how well that handler has trained that animal.”
Chris’s dog Lachie is able to go most public places as his assistance dog. Source: Supplied
‘They are just dogs’
He says that in Australia — as it’s not as dog-inclusive as other countries as Italy — dog owners don’t have as much opportunity to expose their dogs to different situations in public.
He does not believe that all dogs should be allowed in public. However, he suggests there could be potential for something of an obedience test a dog must pass first to be able to be safely be present in public spaces.
A pet-friendly public transport system
The researcher says there’s merit in referring to what other countries and jurisdictions (including Victoria, Australia, which allows small pets to travel on buses, trams and trains) have done to “make their public transport system more equitable”.
Anupam’s dogs sitting in the courtyard of her dog-friendly bar in Melbourne. Source: Supplied
Less restrictive legislation for pets?
She feels this is a shame, especially considering that in her experience, “most dogs behave a lot better than the humans at the bar”.
We have noticed very drunk people throwing up in the dog bowl.
Anupam Sharma
“If you’re going to be banning anyone based on their behaviour, you’d be banning the people.”
Sumi says her cat Zara is her “fur baby”. Source: Supplied
Sumi Mahendran, who is in the third of Australian households owning a cat (according to Animal Medicines Australia), is determined for her and her “baby” Zara to enjoy the same privileges as dogs and their owners.
Sumi says her life “revolves around” Zara, to the point of turning down overseas job opportunities, and hopes cats are soon more accepted in public spaces.
Sarah says she never would leave Leo the cat alone with her kids when they were babies. Source: Supplied
