On this day in 1987, elderly Canberra residents were forced to stay inside their homes in order to feel safe when aggressive dogs were roaming neighborhoods.
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The Canberra Times reported a number of dogs roaming around streets and school ovals with many of them charging at people.
Eliane Reynolds, a grandmother, told The Canberra Times that she had been charged by dogs several times while walking to the shops or bus stop and she was afraid to leave home without a stick or hand bag.
Another woman in the Tuggeranong area was forced to leave her home after repeatedly asking neighbours to keep their dogs from roaming the streets. A large black dog would often prevent her from entering her yard and she was afraid to leave her house.
She believed the only way for authorities to address the problem with dog owners was to introduce heavier fines for unregistered dogs and heavier penalties for owners of roaming dogs.
The registrar of Dogs at the ACT Administration, Ernie Smith, said the ACT dog control ordinance was in the process of being amended to bring it in line with NSW and Victorian ordinances.
There had been an increase in dogs impounded since dog catchers had extended patrol hours. Many dogs had been caught in the early hours of the morning or late at night.