COOPED up pooches could soon have a chance to stretch their legs as Melton Shire Council is considering establishing dog parks in the municipality.

More than 300 residents signed a petition last month urging the council to establish off-leash dog zones to allow their pets to roam free.

The council is also considering a plan to make it illegal to walk dogs without a leash anywhere else in the municipality.

As part of a local law review, the council is looking at whether making the entire municipality a dog on-leash zone and installing warning signs in reserves and parks.

Pet owners said they wouldn’t oppose the plan if the council agreed to provide designated dog parks.

In neighbouring Brimbank, the council has set aside 20 parks as off-leash zones, including Sunshine’s Buckingham Reserve, Denton Avenue Reserve in St Albans and Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.

Hillside resident and dog grooming business owner Shelley Deppeler said an off-leash area was essential to promote a healthy lifestyle for dogs.

She said her own pampered pooches, three-year-old German short-haired pointer Pippa and five-month-old Maltese shitzu puppy Miley would benefit from a designated park.

“I actually find it really sad that I can’t take them anywhere around here to just run around without a leash,” she said.

“I understand that people have concerns about dog attacks and things like that but for all those responsible pet owners, it’s just not fair.

“My dogs are well behaved and there should be somewhere I could take them to let them have a run around where it’s not breaking any laws.”

Coburn Ward councillor Broden Borg praised the scheme.