A DOG attack in Mountford Park was the focal point during discussion of the monthly ranger report at Leeton Shire Council's August meeting on Wednesday night.
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The report evoked a strong response from councillors who questioned when the line should be drawn and further action regarding dogs should be taken.
Discussion centred on an incident involving two uncontrolled dogs that had been allegedly released from the pound half an hour before.
The dogs were not restrained when they reportedly knocked down a two-year-old child in Mountford Park.
The dogs then stood on the child.
A bystander was allegedly forced to physically remove the dogs, who were consequently seized.
The ranger report stated the child and mother were "clearly traumatised by the irresponsible actions of the dog owner".
The two dogs are now subject to a Notice of Intention to declare the dogs as menacing.
Councillor Tracey Valenzisi asked where the line should be drawn between defining a dog as "menacing" or "dangerous".
Director of environmental and community services Garry Stoll said there was a distinction.
"The line is if an injury occurred," he said.
Changes to the state's Companion Animals Act in 2013 gave council power to define a dog as "menacing", rather than purely "dangerous".
According to the act, a dog is menacing if it "has displayed unreasonable aggression towards a person or animal (other than vermin), or has without provocation attacked a person or animal (other than vermin) but without causing serious death or injury".
A dog is dangerous if it "has, without provocation, attacked or killed a person or animal (other than vermin), or has, without provocation, repeatedly threatened to attack or repeatedly chased a person or animal (other than vermin), or is kept or used for the purposes of hunting".
Mayor Paul Maytom questioned the distinction and at what point a dog is deemed dangerous.
"We shouldn't have to wait until an injury occurs," Councillor Maytom said.
If a dog is declared menacing its owner must adhere to a series of requirements, including restraining the dogs with both a muzzle and lead.
If the owner fails to meet the requirements, the dogs can be seized.
Cr Maytom expressed frustration with the public, saying council had tried for many years to properly educate the community on how to look after their animals.
"We're getting further behind," he said.
