Re the article ‘‘Clicker Academy to close‘‘ (Leader, May 18).
The premises the Clicker Academy currently occupy, the scouts hall, in Canberra Avenue Sylvania, is not of an appropriate zoning.
I am reliably informed the councillors voted against submitting a rezoning application for the property to allow such a commercial usage.
I consider council’s decision to be a short-sighted and a very poorly informed one.
The academy allows pet dogs the opportunity to mix and learn to behave socially.
Most live in nearby units (or residences) without adequate outside areas for the dogs to run, chase and play.
The dogs without such activity then cause problems for their owners and disrupt the lives of neighbours.
In my case I live in a garden apartment which has enough space for a dog to live daily but being instinctively a pack animal she needs space to run free and mix with other dogs.
She is also undergoing specialist “anxiety treatment” at the academy, so that she can be left by herself without panic howling.
Staff at the academy also provide puppy training, obedience lessons and many other essential course for responsible dog owners.
They provide a service to the community just as the hall was original planned to do and did as a scouts hall.
I would like to genuinely urge Sutherland Shire Council staff and councillors to reconsider their original decision and rezone the property to allow the Clicker Academy to continue as it has over the past 8 years.
Nev Shooter
