Dog owners get rough end of stick

Dog owners want a better deal for their pets, as the length of time dogs are banned from beaches stretches every year.

Restrictions are imposed during daylight saving. But as those hours have been extended over the years so, too, has dogs' freedom to walk on Auckland beaches - either on or off leashes.

The rules vary across seven regions encompassing the former councils. At Milford on the North Shore, for example, dogs cannot be on the beach between 10am and 6.30pm. In Rodney, it's 9am to 7pm, likewise in Manukau.

Jill Parsons walks her dogs, Amber and Rani, along Milford Beach, their bushy tails swishing in unison.

"Isn't this wonderful," says Mrs Parsons, looking along the beach to where a sprightly black spoodle trots towards us and a Siberian husky frolics in the shallows.

Mrs Parsons is a dog trainer who lives in Whangaparaoa but occasionally makes the trip to the North Shore for her dogs to stretch their legs. She can spend more of the morning here, because Milford allows longer hours for dog walking.

"People are driving to the Shore on weekends to get their dogs out before 10. Then they'll go to a cafe here."

The disparities between beaches across the Auckland region are being addressed right now with the Auckland Council releasing a draft of its new dog bylaws.

The public will be invited to lodge submissions on the dog policy in January.

Mrs Parsons is a member of Dog Friends, which is campaigning for dogs to be allowed on beaches for more months of the year.

"Over the years we've seen an erosion in access to the beach for dogs and their owners. The summer restrictions on beach access used to start at Labour Weekend at the end of October, but some time ago this was changed to the start of daylight saving in September.

"Daylight saving was extended by another three weeks a few years ago, which disadvantaged dog owners still further," she says.

This year daylight saving began on September 25 and doesn't end until April 1. "Dog owners are upset because they feel prohibiting dogs from beaches for more than half of the year is incredibly unfair," Mrs Parsons says.

"We're not being unreasonable. We agree dogs shouldn't be on the beach between November and February, but look at the beaches in October - they're deserted!"

As if by magic at 10am at Milford, her point is proven. The beach is clear, not a dog or a person in sight.

Dog Friends proposes access in daylight hours should be from November 1 to the end of February, noting this would also coincide better with school holidays and the busier summer season.

They're disappointed on reading the council's draft dog policy, released this week. (Read it here, Adobe Reader required) While the council is looking at extending dogs' beach hours from 10am to 6.30pm (like Milford's) the policy shows the the restrictions will continue through March.

"The majority of our 4000-plus members will support 10am to 6.30pm times, and a Labour Weekend start for restrictions, but they would totally disagree with the restrictions continuing until March 31 when the beaches are empty. Our beaches aren't busy when children are at school. Dog Friends has dozens of photos people have sent in of empty beaches since daylight saving started."

Mrs Parsons also points out that originally the rules were intended to keep beaches clear of dogs during the summer months.

"But it's hardly summer for six months of the year, is it?"

Adding to the restrictions are the tides. Sometimes, if the tide is is in, dogs can't get on to the beaches at any point during their allotted hours.

"We are being reasonable. We'd just like 10am to 6pm for that shorter period. At the end of the daylight saving time you virtually need a torch at the end of walking your dog."

Noel Hill is also on Milford Beach today. He's a local resident and owner of Rufus, the black spoodle.

He agrees the restrictions are extreme and notes there's a strong social aspect to dog walking that is hindered by the current bylaws.

"It's a really social thing. Especially for older people, and there are also a lot of widowed women around here who meet people this way. You also see that interaction when someone's dog dies. There'll be a card that goes

The council aims to find a balance for dog owners and people without dogs.APN

up and down the beach among the other dog owners."

Mrs Parsons says she has spoken to elderly dog owners on the coast who tell her they have trouble getting up and out before 9am with their pets.

"They have to take their medication and it takes them a while to start feeling well enough to get going."

Though Dog Friends generally agrees there should be one rule across the region, there is concern that whatever the final decision is, some areas will be worse off.

"We don't want to see the North Shore and other places losing out. But we need to get this right because it will be a long time before it can be reviewed again."

The council's manager of bylaws, Andrew Pickering, says the council wants to allow local areas to retain current access rules, but bring dates and times into line.

"It's important that whatever changes are made we strike a balance between rules designed to share popular public places between dogs with their owners, and those people without dogs," he says.

The draft policy goes to the committee on December 9. The public can make submissions late January.

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