City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn and his pooch Bella enjoying the new off lead dog area located in the Leonard T Green Memorial Park in Mahomets Flats.

Dog owners looking to exercise or socialise their furry friends in an open yet contained space are invited to test out the new off lead area recently opened in the Leonard T. Green Memorial Park.

Located in the centre of the Olive Street Reserve, the new +1000m2 grassed area features two fenced spaces, dog waste bag dispensers and bins. Drinking fountains with dog bowls will soon be installed as their delivery has been delayed by COVID-19.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said with nearly 10,000 dogs registered in Greater Geraldton the new off lead area will be a popular place to visit.

“Up until a few weeks ago we only had one fenced, off lead area, located at Woorree Park,” he said.

“This facility is well used by the community and also by the Geraldton and Districts Kennel Club who offer formal dog obedience and agility training on site.

“The addition of a second facility in Mahomets Flats will make it a much more convenient for dog owners living in the southern suburbs to exercise their pets in contained off the lead areas.”

To help meet the growing demand for places to exercise dogs off lead, four new off lead areas have been added in Greater Geraldton including Bayside Park in Drummond Cove, Bellimos Park in Wandina, the south west corner of the Leonard T. Green Memorial Park in Mahomets Flats and the Mullewa Recreation Grounds.

Although these areas are off lead, dog owners are still required to have their pet under control while in these public open spaces and are legally responsible for the behaviour of their dogs at all times.

“If your dog doesn’t listen to voice commands or runs up to others dogs or people, they are not permitted to be off lead in these designated areas,” Mayor Van Styn added.

In all other public open spaces where dogs are allowed, they must be on a lead.

For more information on where dogs can be exercised off lead, head to the City’s website here