Welcome Bay residents fed up with dog droppings in parks

Responsible dog owner, Shannon Posthumus with her dog Leo at Waipuna Park. Photo / John Borren

The volume of dog droppings left at Tauranga parks and reserves has some residents avoiding the areas altogether.

Residents in Welcome Bay were fed up with the amount of dog poo that had been left in Tye and Waipuna Parks, with some saying they would not take their children to visit anymore.

Shannon Posthumus walks her 1-year-old Staffy Leo at Waipuna Park at least three times a week and said it was "frustrating" when she saw dog poo lying around.

"It's so easy, there are bags provided and bins as well," she said.

Sally Cole had lived in Welcome Bay for more than 20 years and said the problem had become worse lately.

"I like to go to Tye park for a quick run with my two dogs but I'm always wary where I walk."

Mrs Cole said she always took bags and picked up after her dogs but her frustration had led her to pick up poo from other people's dogs.

Marcia Taikato Whauwhau had been taking her family to Tye Park for many years, however, she said she no longer took her children to the park because of the constant amount of dog poo.

Ms Whauwhau said with the limited amount of seating available she often struggled to find a "nice clear spot that didn't have any dog droppings".

"It started to become worse as time got on so we stopped taking the kids there, It's not fair for the general public that wants to utilise the park area," she said.

Brent Lincoln, team leader of animal services for Tauranga City Council, said 21 complaints had been submitted to the council since July 2016 about dog poo being left in parks in the Tauranga region, none of which were specifically about Tye Park or Waipuna Park.

The council had installed 30 bag dispensers at main parks and beach access points around Tauranga.

Mr Lincoln said the council primarily relied on members of the public to report issues.

"To issue a fine for failing to pick up after a dog, an animal control officer must witness the dog defecating and the owner walking away without picking it up.

"It is more common to see a dog defecating, but with no owner in sight. If we are able to identify the owner, they can receive a fine for roaming of $300."

Mr Lincoln said the council did not have exact numbers of how many fines had been issued in the Tauranga area but said, "it was less than 10 per year".

Welcome Bay Community Centre manager Anna Larsen said this was an ongoing issue but roaming dogs were also contributing to the problem.

She said the answer to the issue could be educating dog owners on how to properly raise their dogs and responsible ways to care for them.