No matter who you are or where you live, pets hold a special place in our homes.

Our furry friends bring so much joy by simply being around, cuddling up to us, and surprising us with their loyalty and unconditional love.

Unfortunately, a Hervey Bay resident from Queensland recently discovered that our canine companions could also bring fur-midable fines when rules are accidentally broken.

The confused pet owner known as ‘The Angry Mechanic’ on TikTok was hit with a $718 fine by his local council for a 'breach of compliance — dogs being able to protrude under/over/through the fence'.

On top of that, the fine came with a photo of the perpetrator: one of his two beloved German Shepherds standing up on its hind legs just behind the gate.

‘As if today’s couldn’t get any more stupid,’ he said at the start of his viral post dated February 8.

‘Fraser Coast Council, you bunch of lowlife, scummy c****. If you want to borrow some money, just ask.’

A Hervey Bay, QLD, resident went viral after sharing his frustrations with his local council. Image Credit: TikTok/@theangrymechanic888

He then highlighted the irony of sending him a picture of his dogs on the fence (and fining him for it) when by inference, the dog was curious about who was approaching the gate to take a snap.

‘What do you think they’re going to do? They’re German Shepherds,’ he pointed out.

‘Did they try and bite you? No. Have they bitten another person? No.’

He then ended his post by calling the council, er, something that rhymes with ‘flocking tankers’.

The notice also directed him to ensure that the fence in question was modified by February 27 so that his dogs wouldn’t be able to escape, protrude over/under, or threaten and attack through it.

The TikTok video has had over 300,000 views since, with 15,200 likes and thousands of comments. Most of the comments were overwhelmingly supportive of him and critical of the council.

More than one convinced him to dispute the fine and fight the council for it; some even said to get the media involved.

‘Very confused how a dog looking through a fence is a problem,’ one commenter said.

A second said: ‘It’s not a fine. It is extortion.’

‘Which part of them is protruding? The tip of their paw? I don't think I've ever seen anything more ridiculous,’ a third added.

‘It’s actually better than most fences in Aus,’ another pointed out.

‘The Angry Mechanic’ further explained that he was being asked to work on his fence.

’They say I have to extend the fence by two feet… It's a sturdy gate, no different to anyone else’s fence on the street,’ he shared.

He indicated he wouldn’t be paying the fine.

Source: TikTok/@theangrymechanic888​

What happened before?

Of course, things rarely are as simple as they seem, and the same can be said of this man-versus-council tale.

In a separate post dated February 9, ‘The Angry Mechanic’ admitted that his earlier run-in with the council started when his two dogs got loose.

The gate featured in his $718 notice was previously motorised, and one day his two furry friends figured out how to open the gate.

A concerned citizen eventually found them and temporarily placed them in their car. Curiously, while ‘The Angry Mechanic’ says this citizen should have surrendered the dogs to the council, they didn’t and instead insisted on getting his contact details so they could directly hand the dogs over.

‘That was the original breach of compliance,’ he said.

The council allegedly found this unacceptable, even when ‘The Angry Mechanic’ showed them footage of how the dogs could get past the gates. He says the council was adamant that he edited the footage to make it look like the dogs getting out was an accident.

He said he paid a $287 wandering at large fine for the dogs’ escape.

And then, on another post made days later on February 12, he shared that the citizen who found his dogs came across his TikTok post, and they claimed that the council gave them a hard time in trying to get ahold of ‘The Angry Mechanic’s’ contact details.

Council responds

The Fraser Coast Regional Council has since responded to ‘The Angry Mechanic’s’ viral post and said that he was fined $718 for failing to comply with their order to ‘improve the enclosure to ensure containment’.

‘The dogs had earlier jumped the fence. The owners were directed to make improvements to stop their pets escaping again, to which the owners did not comply,’ they pointed out.

‘The owners were not fined for the animals being able to see through the fence.’

Local regulations place emphasis on ‘suitable fencing’ in Hervey Bay. Image Credit: Fraser Regional Council Second Subordinate Local Law on Animal Management

It is unclear if there are exact measurements when it comes to setting up a proper fence for dogs in Hervey Bay.

Local laws as stated in the Fraser Coast Regional Council website (and cited in the notice) specify that fences must be suitable for containing dogs not to be able to breach them.

Well, if there are any lessons to be had in this drawn-out saga, pet owners should always do their research and read local laws, particularly regarding the safety measures they need to have in place for their pets and for the public.

It can also pay to talk to neighbours and fellow pet owners to see if any little-known rules may be in place. Pet owners can also contact local councils to see what requirements need to be in place for pets to avoid unpleasant $718 surprises, as in the case of ‘The Angry Mechanic’.

Key Takeaways

• A Queensland man was hit with a hefty fine due to his two German shepherds being able to 'protrude' over his fence, he claims.
• The man was fined for a 'breach of compliance’ — dogs being able to protrude under/over/through the fence.
• The man said he has since disengaged his electric gate and made it manual, but the council found the footage 'unacceptable'.
• Local rules state that dog fences must be adequately sized to prevent pets from escaping.

If you have time, you might want to read about a Bunnings worker’s desperate plea to pet owners about bringing pets in-store.

You could also read about what members @Jaykay, @Rosalie, and @PepeLePew did to dissuade irresponsible pet owners from letting their dogs leave poo out in public!

So, what do you think of the fine the pet owner was hit with? Have you ever had any pet-related mishaps?

Share your experiences in the comments below!

And in the meantime, ‘The Angry Mechanic’ isn’t done with the council yet…

Source: TikTok/@theangrymechanic888​

 

[kanwi]

No matter who you are or where you live, pets hold a special place in our homes.

Our furry friends bring so much joy by simply being around, cuddling up to us, and surprising us with their loyalty and unconditional love.

Unfortunately, a Hervey Bay resident from Queensland recently discovered that our canine companions could also bring fur-midable fines when rules are accidentally broken.

The confused pet owner known as ‘The Angry Mechanic’ on TikTok was hit with a $718 fine by his local council for a 'breach of compliance — dogs being able to protrude under/over/through the fence'.

On top of that, the fine came with a photo of the perpetrator: one of his two beloved German Shepherds standing up on its hind legs just behind the gate.

‘As if today’s couldn’t get any more stupid,’ he said at the start of his viral post dated February 8.

‘Fraser Coast Council, you bunch of lowlife, scummy c****. If you want to borrow some money, just ask.’

View attachment 14035

A Hervey Bay, QLD, resident went viral after sharing his frustrations with his local council. Image Credit: TikTok/@theangrymechanic888

He then highlighted the irony of sending him a picture of his dogs on the fence (and fining him for it) when by inference, the dog was curious about who was approaching the gate to take a snap.

‘What do you think they’re going to do? They’re German Shepherds,’ he pointed out.

‘Did they try and bite you? No. Have they bitten another person? No.’

He then ended his post by calling the council, er, something that rhymes with ‘flocking tankers’.

The notice also directed him to ensure that the fence in question was modified by February 27 so that his dogs wouldn’t be able to escape, protrude over/under, or threaten and attack through it.

The TikTok video has had over 300,000 views since, with 15,200 likes and thousands of comments. Most of the comments were overwhelmingly supportive of him and critical of the council.

More than one convinced him to dispute the fine and fight the council for it; some even said to get the media involved.

‘Very confused how a dog looking through a fence is a problem,’ one commenter said.

A second said: ‘It’s not a fine. It is extortion.’

‘Which part of them is protruding? The tip of their paw? I don't think I've ever seen anything more ridiculous,’ a third added.

‘It’s actually better than most fences in Aus,’ another pointed out.

‘The Angry Mechanic’ further explained that he was being asked to work on his fence.

’They say I have to extend the fence by two feet… It's a sturdy gate, no different to anyone else’s fence on the street,’ he shared.

He indicated he wouldn’t be paying the fine.

Source: TikTok/@theangrymechanic888​

What happened before?

Of course, things rarely are as simple as they seem, and the same can be said of this man-versus-council tale.

In a separate post dated February 9, ‘The Angry Mechanic’ admitted that his earlier run-in with the council started when his two dogs got loose.

The gate featured in his $718 notice was previously motorised, and one day his two furry friends figured out how to open the gate.

A concerned citizen eventually found them and temporarily placed them in their car. Curiously, while ‘The Angry Mechanic’ says this citizen should have surrendered the dogs to the council, they didn’t and instead insisted on getting his contact details so they could directly hand the dogs over.

‘That was the original breach of compliance,’ he said.

The council allegedly found this unacceptable, even when ‘The Angry Mechanic’ showed them footage of how the dogs could get past the gates. He says the council was adamant that he edited the footage to make it look like the dogs getting out was an accident.

He said he paid a $287 wandering at large fine for the dogs’ escape.

And then, on another post made days later on February 12, he shared that the citizen who found his dogs came across his TikTok post, and they claimed that the council gave them a hard time in trying to get ahold of ‘The Angry Mechanic’s’ contact details.

Council responds

The Fraser Coast Regional Council has since responded to ‘The Angry Mechanic’s’ viral post and said that he was fined $718 for failing to comply with their order to ‘improve the enclosure to ensure containment’.

‘The dogs had earlier jumped the fence. The owners were directed to make improvements to stop their pets escaping again, to which the owners did not comply,’ they pointed out.

‘The owners were not fined for the animals being able to see through the fence.’

View attachment 14036

Local regulations place emphasis on ‘suitable fencing’ in Hervey Bay. Image Credit: Fraser Regional Council Second Subordinate Local Law on Animal Management

It is unclear if there are exact measurements when it comes to setting up a proper fence for dogs in Hervey Bay.

Local laws as stated in the Fraser Coast Regional Council website (and cited in the notice) specify that fences must be suitable for containing dogs not to be able to breach them.

Well, if there are any lessons to be had in this drawn-out saga, pet owners should always do their research and read local laws, particularly regarding the safety measures they need to have in place for their pets and for the public.

It can also pay to talk to neighbours and fellow pet owners to see if any little-known rules may be in place. Pet owners can also contact local councils to see what requirements need to be in place for pets to avoid unpleasant $718 surprises, as in the case of ‘The Angry Mechanic’.

Key Takeaways

• A Queensland man was hit with a hefty fine due to his two German shepherds being able to 'protrude' over his fence, he claims.
• The man was fined for a 'breach of compliance’ — dogs being able to protrude under/over/through the fence.
• The man said he has since disengaged his electric gate and made it manual, but the council found the footage 'unacceptable'.
• Local rules state that dog fences must be adequately sized to prevent pets from escaping.

If you have time, you might want to read about a Bunnings worker’s desperate plea to pet owners about bringing pets in-store.

You could also read about what members @Jaykay, @Rosalie, and @PepeLePew did to dissuade irresponsible pet owners from letting their dogs leave poo out in public!

So, what do you think of the fine the pet owner was hit with? Have you ever had any pet-related mishaps?

Share your experiences in the comments below!

And in the meantime, ‘The Angry Mechanic’ isn’t done with the council yet…

Source: TikTok/@theangrymechanic888​

Next comes the Council FART tax, first for animals then all of us. ....that's progress eh!

 

[SGH]

No sympathy.
If you have dogs, it's up to you to contain them.
If you own a property and you have dogs, it's up to you to comply with all laws applicable to such containment, including bringing your fences up to the required standard. End of story.

Really, he paid how much for them getting loose and then the council dibs him for this. So how many council regulations do you know which affects your fur babies?

 

[SGH]

We had an ex-military dog who would lie with her nose on the boundary line when the gate was open and not move an inch, but if anyone came through that gate without permission she would be on them like a rocket. As far as we were concerned no one has the right to be on our property without our permission.

 

[Aussie all the Way]

Another DICKHEAD Council Law, would you think they would get people who leave their houses to become pig styes to clean them up, no they like to hassle people who have done NOTHING wrong. The dog and people are perfectly safe as long as some IDIOT doesn't puts their arm through the fence because the dog CAN't get his nose through so that would be the only way anything bad could happen. You will probably find that the person who has complained just does not like big dogs. It's like the MORONS who have had prong collars banned, they have no idea how to use them properly they have listened to others who don't have all the facts and again another RIDICULOUS Law that doesn't make sense.

 

[Tervueren]

My dog was sitting inside my car when I went to the ATM. All four windows were wound down 3 inches or 2.5cms. My dog is very large (Belgian Shepherd) and has a big head that in NO WAY could have got through this small opening. When I returned to my car a man was writing down my registration number. I asked him what he was doing and he abused me, telling me that my dog had bitten him (showed me his arm which had obviously been bitten. His arm was grazed and bleeding, but not requiring stitches or even a bandage) I asked him if he had been trying to steal my shopping and why had he put his arm in my car. He continued with profanity and abuse informing me that my dog should be put down.
Despite the fact that the dog had absolutely no possible way of getting his head out of the window, after complaining to the local Council I was issued with a $300 fine!!!
Now how is that fair? As far as I was concerned my dog behaved perfectly well, and the only way this man could have received a bite on his arm was because he had squeezed it inside the window!
Despite my protestations and 2 interviews with the Cat and Dog Management Board at the Council, I still had to pay the fine. The man concerned required no medical attention for his arm.

 

[Aussie all the Way]

My dog was sitting inside my car when I went to the ATM. All four windows were wound down 3 inches or 2.5cms. My dog is very large (Belgian Shepherd) and has a big head that in NO WAY could have got through this small opening. When I returned to my car a man was writing down my registration number. I asked him what he was doing and he abused me, telling me that my dog had bitten him (showed me his arm which had obviously been bitten. His arm was grazed and bleeding, but not requiring stitches or even a bandage) I asked him if he had been trying to steal my shopping and why had he put his arm in my car. He continued with profanity and abuse informing me that my dog should be put down.
Despite the fact that the dog had absolutely no possible way of getting his head out of the window, after complaining to the local Council I was issued with a $300 fine!!!
Now how is that fair? As far as I was concerned my dog behaved perfectly well, and the only way this man could have received a bite on his arm was because he had squeezed it inside the window!
Despite my protestations and 2 interviews with the Cat and Dog Management Board at the Council, I still had to pay the fine. The man concerned required no medical attention for his arm.

And there lies the problem with todays world, ARSEHOLES like the BASTARD who obviously put his arm inside the window trying to steal whatever in my eyes it's a shame he didn't lose his whole F--king arm to the dog. Councils are full of little dare I say hitlers who want to throw their weight around and think they are Police, just say it's the LAW with a smirk on their face as they dish out the Fine.

 

[Kelpie]

Too many stupid rules in our Country, too many stubborn people working in Councils.

In these days some Council bureaucrats don't sleep at night but dreams instead of something where they can come up with a way to raise a fine or something to boost the council's coffers. Anything will do while some Councillors don't even know about it or vote for it unbeknown to them what they are voting for.

 

[Kelpie]

My dog was sitting inside my car when I went to the ATM. All four windows were wound down 3 inches or 2.5cms. My dog is very large (Belgian Shepherd) and has a big head that in NO WAY could have got through this small opening. When I returned to my car a man was writing down my registration number. I asked him what he was doing and he abused me, telling me that my dog had bitten him (showed me his arm which had obviously been bitten. His arm was grazed and bleeding, but not requiring stitches or even a bandage) I asked him if he had been trying to steal my shopping and why had he put his arm in my car. He continued with profanity and abuse informing me that my dog should be put down.
Despite the fact that the dog had absolutely no possible way of getting his head out of the window, after complaining to the local Council I was issued with a $300 fine!!!
Now how is that fair? As far as I was concerned my dog behaved perfectly well, and the only way this man could have received a bite on his arm was because he had squeezed it inside the window!
Despite my protestations and 2 interviews with the Cat and Dog Management Board at the Council, I still had to pay the fine. The man concerned required no medical attention for his arm.

Did you expect any different result from the council.??

 

[Tervueren]

Did you expect any different result from the council.??

No, probably not, but I was hoping that they would have some common sense realising that the dog could only bite someone if their arm was INSIDE the vehicle....!

 

[Tervueren]

And there lies the problem with todays world, ARSEHOLES like the BASTARD who obviously put his arm inside the window trying to steal whatever in my eyes it's a shame he didn't lose his whole F--king arm to the dog. Councils are full of little dare I say hitlers who want to throw their weight around and think they are Police, just say it's the LAW with a smirk on their face as they dish out the Fine.

My sentiments exactly!!

 

[Yani]

The local laws and regulations are in place to protect the public.
From what I could see in the picture a German Shepherd could easily jump over this fence into the street. A large dog would also be able to jump and lunge over the fence at pedestrians legally walking on the nature strip/footpath.
Even domestic pets can be unpredictable in their behaviour at any time.
What happens if the pet owner is away from the property and the animal becomes suddenly dangerous, and a threat to the general public?
Previously the dog owner had a run in with the local council about this issue.
The dog owner needs to take personal responsibility for his actions/inactions in this situation.
Don't blame others for your childish and irresponsible behaviour.

 

[Defiant540]

A few years ago our dog was sitting in her armchair at the front door and my husband was working in the garage, he saw a guy with a camera taking photos He asked he what he was doing, he said because we didn't have a front fence and our dog was sitting in the front garden not chained up it could be a fine of up to $269. Our dog never left the chair or went past the letterbox, she just liked to sit and watch people. Some people used to even come up and stroke her,(which she loved). So her chair had to go. She was not happy and neither were we. She was never out there without one of us. But as they say thems the rules or revenue makers. Grrr. Nothing wrong with your gate it's the council being the council

put chair by front door with screen door lock

 

[Defiant540]

The local laws and regulations are in place to protect the public.
From what I could see in the picture a German Shepherd could easily jump over this fence into the street. A large dog would also be able to jump and lunge over the fence at pedestrians legally walking on the nature strip/footpath.
Even domestic pets can be unpredictable in their behaviour at any time.
What happens if the pet owner is away from the property and the animal becomes suddenly dangerous, and a threat to the general public?
Previously the dog owner had a run in with the local council about this issue.
The dog owner needs to take personal responsibility for his actions/inactions in this situation.
Don't blame others for your childish and irresponsible behaviour.

GS can be trained,

 

[Kelpie]

True, but Coun

No, probably not, but I was hoping that they would have some common sense realising that the dog could only bite someone if their arm was INSIDE the vehicle....!

True and I agree with you. But Councils are so money hungry that they don' care at all when it comes to get some money from anyone.

 

[Kelpie]

GS can be trained,

It is only a matter of different opinions.