Reclaiming beaches from the dogs

It was a pilgrimage of sorts back to her roots in the Bay of Plenty, to where she grew up and was educated.

She read her poetry at an Anzac Day commemoration but left 'horrified and concerned”.

'It's an important issue The Weekend Sun has raised,” says Wendy Baker, now living in another dramatic and beautiful part of the country, the Catlins in Southland. 'And it's an issue that should be pursued.”

Her beef is dog control. And The Sun story she refers to was about a family being woken in the dead of night by a pack of roaming dogs that had bailed up a family pet – a cat called Rosie.

It's believed the dogs made off with the cat, which hasn't been seen since. And there were other reports of the dogs behaving in a threating way around Papamoa.

'That was exactly my experience in Tauranga after Anzac Day,” she says. Wendy, an inveterate jogger, went for a run on Papamoa Beach and there were several dogs roaming. Wendy says the owners were unaware of where their dogs were and what they were doing.

'I also ran down the reserve by the water course and there were more dogs not under control. They were not being controlled effectively. Where are the leashes?”

And she believes there should be signs advising visitors of the dog rules in the area and also advising dog owners of their responsibilities.

It's not just Wendy's concern it seems. She cites the results of a local Papamoa community questionnaire. It asked if there should be stricter controls for dogs on the beach. Fifty-eight respondents said ‘Yes', just 18 said ‘No'. Should wardens to round up wandering dogs? ‘Yes', said 71 replies, ‘No', said just four. And should fines be imposed? Sixty-one respondents said ‘Yes, and eight for ‘No'.

'There needs to be better control of dogs by dogs owners. And there especially needs to be better education and enforcement under the Dog Control Act 1996,” says Wendy.

And she uses Accident Compensation Corporation statistics to give weight to her cause.

'In 2014, there were 12,655 dog biting incidents and last year there were 13,206 – that's an increase of 551 in one year. Nearly two more each day. That cannot be tolerated.”

Claims lodged with ACC for dog biting incidents cost more than $3 million per year. Wendy says those statistics must been worrying for Papamoa, where the population and dogs numbers are soaring.

Uncontrolled dogs in public areas and the potential danger they pose is a hobby horse of this former Bay of Plenty Regional Council worker.

'I am familiar with the regulatory and compliance responsibilities of councils. And I don't think enough is being done.”

And she is a victim herself. Wendy has been attacked from behind by a dog while running –not in Papamoa but another North Island town – and she still suffers lasting effects from the injuries to her ankle.

She has taken up the dog biting issue with local Tauranga City councillor Steve Morris. She told him 'we all have the right to enjoy our beaches and reserves and they're not just free-range for the dog owners to do what they want”.

Wendy told Steve there are people on the beach who don't control their dogs effectively and 'something needs to be done please”.

Back came Mr Morris. And apparently the council has started 'pro-active dog ranging” for the first time. Steve says rangers now regularly patrol the beach in 4WDs with cages. 'And we have brought forward the review of both our dog and beaches bylaws from 2018 to later this year.”

Steve says at the moment a dog is allowed off the leash on the beach and in the reserves. 'But we may change this subject to consultation with the community.”

Wendy has been on this case for a few years now. 'This is a serious issue. I feel dogs should be on leads and under effective control in public areas. I am passionate about advocating for New Zealand to be a safe place with dogs.”

She is not going to let go.

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21 comments

annoying dogs

Posted on 08-05-2016 10:26 | By Captain Sensible

Not enough owners pick up their dogs poo nor keep their dogs from invading the space of people who do not want a wet nose or a tongue ( that just minutes prior was rubbing another dogs butt) across their legs. Here's a newsflash...you may find your dog the cutest 4 legged animal in the world but not everybody shares your opinion. I just want to be able to walk along the beach with no hassle, friendly or otherwise, from any annoying dogs.


So Unfair!

Posted on 08-05-2016 12:25 | By bayofplenty

This is ridiculous! Dogs need to be able to have some freedom. They need to be able to run free off leash not just be walked! Not once have I ever had an issue with a dog off leash at the beach. Don't let the irresponsible people ruin it for the majority of good ones! >:(


pfft

Posted on 08-05-2016 13:54 | By porky

why can't some of the beach be for the dogs and some of the beach be for the non dog people? why can't we share? dogs love being able to run free and frolic in the water just as much as people. why do dogs have to be banished to the edges of Tauranga to their own dog park which is a good 40 minute drive out of town?!


Wendy sounds like a cat owner

Posted on 08-05-2016 14:54 | By Tgaboy

Incredulous how an individual can own several cats, unregistered, and let them roam everywhere day and night but a dog can't run on the beach. Dogs need space to run and enjoy a dip in the sea like the rest of us. My dog is brilliantly behaved and we are responsible for him. I'd hate for Wendy to have it made that he can't have a run on Te beach.


BAN DOGS

Posted on 08-05-2016 15:15 | By NZgirl

NO dogs on the beach as many onwers done pick up the crap after. You only have yourself to blame


Punish

Posted on 08-05-2016 15:22 | By mutley

the irresponsible owners not all of the dogs.


Grumble

Posted on 08-05-2016 15:27 | By Horsefly

I am going to grumble at the council here, we pay dog rates for education that we never see? what is the council doing with this money really? If its not on printed material then they should have a warden at beached policing this. As for dog owners I have had dogs running at full tilt toward me and the owners have not tried to restrain their dogs. Dog ownership is common sense and people should be respectful of others.


Dogs

Posted on 08-05-2016 15:59 | By Linaire

While I agree with the above dog owners that dogs love to run free on the beach, this is fine with me so long as the dog is being controlled by the owner. A dog a mile down the beach is not under the control of its owner at all. I have walked along the beach and there have been dogs following me, without an owner in sight! Sometimes I wonder if the beach is just being used by some very irresponsible dog owners, as one huge 'dog toilet'. With all the dog attacks, dog owners need to use more commonsense, and keep the dog within sight at all times on the beach!


Southlander

Posted on 08-05-2016 16:42 | By Hunterway

I would like to walk on the beach and throw the ball for my dog so he can have a whale of a time . (Get it? Whale of a time )unmolestered by winging Southlanders.I thought Southlanders were suposed to be tough. Harden up and take a dog stick.


Ban them

Posted on 08-05-2016 17:09 | By peecee09

Dogs should be banned from all beaches and parks and sent to specially set up dog areas where their filthy bacteria ridden discharges will only affect their owners. How yuk


Dogs on beach

Posted on 08-05-2016 19:57 | By Cottkins

Of course dogs should be under control on the beach but they don't have to be on a lead to be under control. There is little point in having a dog if it cannot run around somewhere.I have 2 dogs(and I always pick up their poo) but have had dog haters becoming hysterical at the sight of them even when they have not even walked near to them. Please let us all just show some common-sense here


Uncontrolled Dogs

Posted on 08-05-2016 20:03 | By mickey mouse

Any dog not on a leash on the beach should be shot....no excuses.Do that once and all dogs would soon be on a leash.Remember there are children older people who cannot stop dogs jumping all over them.The beach is more important to humans than dogs.


4WDs with cages

Posted on 08-05-2016 20:18 | By Capt_Kaveman

typical lazy council workers, if i see a 4WD on the beach he well be told to leave the beach and do his patrols from the access ways


Beaches aren't just for dogless people

Posted on 08-05-2016 22:23 | By Murray.Guy

Perhaps Council should establish a few beach zones which are allow for dogs to be not on a lead, unrestrained? Perhaps identify specific hours of access to identified restricted areas? Those opposed can be more confident their beach experience will not include dogs and Council better able to monitor and respond. Beaches aren't just for people.


Ban the Contaminators

Posted on 09-05-2016 08:10 | By Watcher 1

Cows and Horses are banned, Farmers and others are charged for polluting waterways, Councils cannot discharge sewage into waterways so why does a dog owner think its their god given right to leave their Dog Poo on the beach to contaminate the water where others swim and walk??


Dog control

Posted on 09-05-2016 08:40 | By maunganui

The dog rangers of Tauranga Council can't and won't control dogs on Pilot Bay which are prohibited to be anywhere along the Mall from the road kerb side to the waters edge.


@ Watcher 1

Posted on 16-05-2016 01:28 | By Crash test dummies

Perhaps you need to read a recent article about the Te Maunga ponds that TCC has been allowing to leech into the harbour for years. They even dredged it out and made it worse, but nothing more has been done about it by regional Council except to say that their "mates" are doing fine ...


Recaliming the beaches?

Posted on 16-05-2016 16:26 | By Crash test dummies

Actually the real issue here is that they need to be reclaimed by New Zealanders for New Zealanders. Forget all the other guff and get that done once and for all.


Dogs Under Attack AGAIN!

Posted on 02-06-2016 12:35 | By Chapsmate

It is unfortunate that we are unable to be fair with our criticism. Vehicles kill New Zealanders. No-one has suggested that vehicles should be taken off the roads and used only in designated areas, [racetracks] Yet, because a few dog owners are inconsiderate in the way they care for their animals, ALL dogs are being branded as pests who must be rigidly controlled. When my dog is roaming freely on the beach, [under my care] I am concerned only when he attempts to meet a LEASHED dog! They are the ones who are likely to snap at a freely ranging dog [out of jealousy?] We live in a beautiful country. Let us all, [dogs and humans] be free to enjoy it freely.


Chapsmate

Posted on 06-06-2016 08:54 | By Kenworthlogger

Vehicles dont run up to you and jump all over you or bite you. Vehicles dont poo on the beach. Vehicles dont kill people its the drivers!


@ Chapsmate

Posted on 06-06-2016 14:10 | By Crash test dummies

We are not talking about dogs of the four legged type, we are talking about the ones that seek to take, control and own the beaches that belong to everyone, all of NZ and no need to pay to go there.


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