Dog escape alarm

By Tania Martin
A DOG escaping from a newly opened boarding kennel in Silvan has alarmed a local resident who originally opposed the development.
Nearby resident and objector Volker Sawatzky says if one dog has already run away from the kennel, what is to say it won’t happen again.
“This time it was a ridgeback, but it could be far worse next time – it could be a pit bull,” he said.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges originally opposed the application for the dog boarding kennel in June 2004 after receiving 20 objections from local residents.
However, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal overturned the council’s decision and a permit was issued at the end of 2004.
Mr Sawatzky has also raised concerns over the proximity of the dog kennel to houses in the area.
He said the kennel was supposed to have been built 500 metres away from houses, but 10 or 12 of those houses were within that distance.
Mr Sawatzky was alerted to the dog’s escape after seeing a flier which offered a reward for the animal’s return. The telephone number on the notice titled ‘lost dog’ was for the kennel in Silvan.
However, kennel owner David Ellis denied a dog had escaped from the kennel.
“I don’t know anything about that,” he said.
Shire communications officer Tracey Varley said a complaint about the kennel had been lodged with the council’s environment and engineering department.
Ms Varley said the council was investigating the situation, but couldn’t comment further until an inspection of the property had been undertaken.
Mr Ellis said there was nothing wrong with the kennel and felt it was going along ‘beautifully’.
He said he was sure all the objectors would be happy with the way the kennel was going.
Mr Ellis declined to make any further comments as he was busy at the time.