‘No dog zone' causes stink at Palmyra Primary School
Palmyra Primary School has become the latest school to enforce a ban on dogs — despite a long-standing tradition for locals to walk their dogs on the school's oval and bring them to weekend markets — due to concerns children were stepping on or sitting in dog poo.
A flyer posted in neighbourhood letterboxes informed residents the school would become a 'dog-free zone', with the prohibition taking effect from June 16.
An email to the school community spelt out that dogs would no longer be permitted under any circumstances, even on a leash.
'This will apply to all areas of the school, including the oval, playgrounds, gardens, and spaces surrounding school buildings,' it said.
'It will apply at all times — during school hours, before and after school, at night, on weekends, during school holidays, and during community events such as weekend markets.'
The email, signed jointly by Palmyra's principal, P&C president and school council chair, said they understood that many in the community had enjoyed using the school oval to exercise their dogs.
But students' health, safety and wellbeing had to come first.
'Increasingly, we have had concerns raised about hygiene, including dog faeces on shoes and clothing being walked into classrooms, where children sit as well,' the email said.
'These issues are not only unpleasant but also pose significant health risks for young children.'
Residents started an online petition to fight the ban, saying Palmyra PS had been a 'cherished venue' for exercising dogs for many years.
'We've built lasting friendships walking through the grounds with our pets, and our children who attend the school relish spending joyful hours playing there after school, on weekends, holidays, and during the Palmyra farmers market events,' the petition's creator wrote on Change.org.
'The thought of losing this connection saddens us deeply.'
The petition, which gathered around 200 signatures, proposed allowing dogs to be walked at the school during designated times, with patrons pledging to promptly clean up any waste.
The Education Department said School Education Regulations and the Dog Act gave principals of schools, with no shared-use agreement, the power to prohibit dogs from being brought on to school premises.
Last year, Wembley Downs private college Hale School proposed closing the campus to visitors because an increase in dogs being exercised off-lead had resulted in injuries, as well as concerns that owners were not cleaning up after their dogs.
After public consultation, the school agreed to continue allowing dogs to be walked there as long as dog owners kept them on a leash at all times and picked up after them.
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