Residents call for tougher dog control policies in Western Bay

Residents are calling on the Western Bay District Council to introduce tighter dog controls.

Concerned residents gave their feedback to councillors at yesterday's council policy and strategy committee meeting on the draft Dog Control Policy and Bylaw Review 2016.

Resident Brian Hely was one of the submitters calling for tighter dog controls, and said dogs should be on leads in reserves at all times, not just in designated dog-free areas. "I live on Beach Rd right on the waterfront near the public walkway, and there needs to be an extension of our dog-free areas to prevent them roaming or running wild."

Pest Free Omokoroa founder Josephine Law urged councillors to adopt an on-leash restriction for the whole of the Omokoroa and Bethlehem cycleway. She also called for the introduction of a new prohibited area on the foreshore between Cooney's Reserve and Lynley Park.

Ms Law said the district's visiting godwit population was at huge risk from wandering dogs.

The on-leash restriction in place on the north side of Omokoroa Peninsula needed to be extended to a small area south of the peninsula, she said.

The council proposed some new minimum standards for the care and housing of dogs. Also proposed was the neutering of any dog impounded three times within any 12-month period, as well as any dog classified as menacing.