A WYNDHAM City Council proposal to ban pet owners housing dogs in the front of their properties has sparked outrage.

Angry residents have labelled the move as a violation of their civic rights and said they would refuse to abide by the proposed ban.

In a controversial decision, councillors voted to make changes to General Local Law 11 at the last council meeting.

New Clause 29 states dogs must not be kept or housed in the front yard, the road frontage or be left unsupervised.

Dog owner Sarah James scoffed at the decision.

“They are just trying to control what people can do on their property and it’s just not right,” she said.

“The dogs are only protecting their property.”

Ms James said the law would be impossible to enforce.

“You will keep getting complaints and it will turn into neighbour against neighbour,” she said.

“It will be another excuse for people to dump pets.”

Ms James believes the council should instead be focusing on the roaming cat problem across the municipality.

But Hoppers Crossing Veterinary Clinic and Hospital nurse Andrea Morley said her staff was left to mend the damage from dogs kept at the front of houses.

“The law will help keep animals out of driveways because we get a number of them that have been run over by their owners because the animals curl up comfortably under the wheel,” she said.

Ms Morley said people should be able to walk past a home without feeling intimidated.

“It will keep free access to the front door without harassment,” she said.

“Think of the poor posties.”

Councillor Glenn Goodfellow said the council was prepared for a backlash.

The council report revealed that the changes were unlikely to be well received by many dog owners.

“It’s our responsibility to balance what’s right and is just to all ratepayers, not just one segment,” Cr Goodfellow said. “It’s frightening when you do have a dog bounding at the front yard.