A new study finds that Australia’s “dog lock” law, which banned dogs in most homes, was implemented in an effort to increase crime rates.
The study, commissioned by the Dog Owners Association of Australia, finds that the laws were “highly effective in reducing crime”, but “the effect was not uniform across all areas of Australia”.
“We have found that some areas, such as the west, had a very low level of dog-related crime, and the effect was relatively weak in the rest of Australia,” Dr Anne McCool, a senior research fellow at the Australian National University, told News.org.au.
“In fact, some areas had quite a strong effect.”
The researchers also found that “lockdowns” led to a rise in dog attacks, as people “locked themselves out of their homes to protect themselves from the dogs”.
“They’re locking themselves out to protect their property,” Ms McCool said.
They’re not locking up themselves to protect the dogs. “
What they’re doing is they are locking up their property, their pets, to protect them.
She also found the “lockdown” law did not lead to an increase in dog ownership in some communities. “
So we need to look at this more critically and see if there is a more effective way of doing it.”
She also found the “lockdown” law did not lead to an increase in dog ownership in some communities.
In Victoria, for example, dog attacks fell from 3,542 in 2015 to 2,746 in 2016.
Dr McCool told Newsorg.com