Council looks at tougher dog rules

Papamoa councillor Steve Morris wants a tough approach. Photo / George Novak

Tauranga dog rangers could resume ranging if a get-tough approach to troublesome mutts is signed off by the council.

Papamoa councillor Steve Morris succeeded in launching an investigation into rangers becoming more proactive instead of only responding to complaints.

He was told there was not enough money allocated to the council's animal control section to allow random patrols.

The council responded by ordering an inquiry into what was needed to get dog rangers ranging, with the clampdown potentially taking effect from July 1 next year.

Cr Morris has backed public calls for greater enforcement of irresponsible dog owners who allow their pets to rush up to people, or who do not pick up their dogs' droppings.

He told a recent council meeting he wanted greater enforcement of dogs on beaches. Cr Morris said he was responding to complaints about the behaviour of a small minority of dog owners.

"We need to take a lot more of a heavy-handed approach."

The investigation will establish whether random patrols would be a better use of animal control staff time, or if there were other priorities.

Council's animals and enforcement team leader Brent Lincoln said they received no more than a couple of complaints a week and it was mostly about dogs being allowed to rush up to people. Routine patrols on beaches would require a suitable vehicle.

Interviewed after the meeting, Cr Morris said people became upset and complained when dog owners were unsympathetic and told them to get lost. But by the time the ranger arrived, the incident was over and the owner had left the area.

He said the report would include looking at the cost implications of getting dog rangers ranging so they were not just acting on complaints.

Tauranga's dogs - the big picture

* Number of registered dogs: 10,737
* Dogs impounded so far this year: 495
* Impounded dogs claimed: 84 per cent.
* Number of registered dogs with aggression complaints: 1.36 per cent.
* Known dogs currently registered: 97 per cent.