Owners of three dogs ordered to be removed from a Windsor Road property will fight the council's eviction notices at a hearings panel tomorrow.
Residents Kelvin Mathie and Jeffrey Keast requested a hearing to modify or cancel the council notice for the permanent removal of Kelvin's dogs Sativa, a labrador whippet cross and Jess a border collie puppy, and Jeffrey's dog Whistle, a fox terrier boxer cross.
Residents of a Windsor Road property are fighting to keep the three dogs that live at the house.
The dogs are kept in the front yard of the property and the council has received complaints about their persistent and loud barking since 2010. The complaints stopped, then resumed in early 2012, then stopped again before recommencing in February 2013.
When complaints started again in 2013, one complainant was asked to complete a barking diary recording the date, time and duration each time the dogs bark. The diary when returned to Tauranga City Council on February 26 indicated a real issue, so a survey of the neighbourhood was distributed and returned in March 2013.
Seven households responded, six of which identified the dogs at 57 Windsor Road, Bellevue as causing a nuisance by loud and persistent barking.
Two more complaints were received after the barking survey, so a letter dated 13 March 2013 was posted advising the dog owners to either seek professional help to reduce the barking, or trial the removal of an individual dog to see if barking reduced.
The letter advised the dog owners that if substantiated complaints continued to be received the owners could be required to permanently remove the dogs from the property.
A removal notice was then issued on April 23 after council received nine more complaints from three different residents.
The dogs' owners objected to the notice, which means the dogs can stay until the hearing commissioners; chairman councillor Wayne Moultrie, and commissioners Larry Baldock and Terry Molloy make their decision.
17 comments
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Posted on 23-05-2013 16:52 | By Hmmmm
I can understand the residents being annoyed as it would drive me bats! Owners of the dogs should of got them trained to not bark at fresh air..they did have afew years to sort their animals out! But feel for the animals becos thats the way they communicate! Be abit like us not being able to talk!
Interesting
Posted on 23-05-2013 17:05 | By cheese
Interesting that the council goes to all the means after receiving all these complaints yet fail to contact the home owner - me. First I've heard is reading this on Facebook. Tony
whats a little noise?
Posted on 23-05-2013 17:17 | By Nikkinoo
I live on Windsor road and to be honest i am far more worried about the pitbull next door who's allowed to roam whenever he wants.
On the payroll again
Posted on 23-05-2013 17:49 | By Plonker
Like dogs the Commissioners are making a pig's breakfest of this one to, nevermind the real issue just get onto the gravy train of payments as commissioners. They have to have a tainted view after all it is election year, who do you think that they are going to support?
Ignorant Owners
Posted on 23-05-2013 20:02 | By Colleen Spiro
This really angers me.....THREE YEARS.....Owners want the dogs, consider the damn neighbours....move to a bloody farm if you want three noisy dogs. We have 6 dogs in 3 houses in close proximity in a an area driving the neighbours bonkers....
be mature
Posted on 23-05-2013 21:01 | By Maria M
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Simple!!!
Posted on 24-05-2013 05:29 | By Sambo
keep the dogs, and put the owners down.
Everyone's right to peace
Posted on 24-05-2013 06:33 | By Dollie
If you have dogs in town, you do have to keep them quiet, under control with a varied living environment so they don't get bored. You might have to change your house and the way you live to accommodate the dogs. I hope the dogs will still be able to live with their owners. By objecting to the removal notice shows the owners love their dogs. To be fair, I think the council should do their own monitoring of the noise than rely on irate neighbours.
yay
Posted on 24-05-2013 07:33 | By Castreece
I've had issues with neighbourhood dogs, called the council from my lounge and council person could hear them - half a block away. Dog owners - if you can't look after them don't try to take them in, it's a responsibility having a dog. Tga dog control have been great, have given the owners information on how to care for a dog, have followed up. Dogs in town means lots of work and walks.
Bylaw
Posted on 24-05-2013 09:40 | By Dizzy Lizzy
Unh...why aren't the Council invoking their own bylaw? Maximum 2 dogs allowed on a property...
@ Tony
Posted on 24-05-2013 10:46 | By Colleen Spiro
What would you have told them Tony?.....on your FB it says that "its ok, because they are paying the rent". One of your friends said "get rid of the neighbours, not the dogs". Just because you may not live in the neighbourhood, does not mean you should not have a social and community attitude toward the people who rent your property and their neighbours.....PEOPLE MATTER.
dogs
Posted on 25-05-2013 09:01 | By Tyraone
If my dogs bark unecessarily they are reprimanded immediately I do not tolerate dogs that bark unecessarily. different if they have a purpose! Mine are my family and security. A well trained and dicsacpined dog is a joy. Maybe these foldk should attend dog training classes and take their dogs their is a local dog obedience club in Rotorua who can help and advise owners on same contact is Ph 07 347 9571 Rotorua or email [email protected] to the rest of the knockers how about trying to help these folk keep their beloved dogs by offering constructive as I am doing!!!!
These Dogs Sound Scary
Posted on 26-05-2013 17:26 | By paci
I have parked outside this property from time to time waiting to collect my children from school and I have heard the dogs going off as the children walk past the property - they really do sound very scary and very loud.
Paci
Posted on 27-05-2013 21:37 | By Tyraone
Oh come on Paci sure the dogs will bark especially as they think you are invading their territory. they are there for security and it is plain to me you are not a doggy person and you do not understand the physcology of dogs and what makes them tick? I do as I am around dogs all the same and understand same.
Teasing
Posted on 27-05-2013 21:44 | By Tyraone
Finally how does one know that these dogs are not being teased by passerbys eg banging on the fence, shouting of course that will wind the dogs up to make them bark which is a self defence action on their part. Regretfully there are lot of stupid people around that are more than capable of deplorable actions as such. My loyalties lie with the dogs not humans. They regretfully cannot speak for themselves. If they could I am sure they would have a lot to tell why they act the way they do?
Tyraone
Posted on 28-05-2013 14:34 | By paci
Well Tyraone how wrong you are - I love dogs and have been a dog owner several times - you jump to conclusion far to quickly and sound like a very angry little person. You state the following: If my dogs bark unecessarily they are reprimanded immediately I do not tolerate dogs that bark unecessarily. different if they have a purpose! - pitty the owners did not consider this when they located their dogs on a school route where children walk past almost everyday & not once did I hear the owners disciplining the dogs - like you I do not blame the dogs I blame the owners!
Paci
Posted on 28-05-2013 17:12 | By Tyraone
My apologies to you, for blaming you for lack of dog knowledge. You are obviously experienced. If the owners do not reprimand the dogs or purchase bark collars then the onis is on them not to teach thier dogs manners. if they were mine I would have them at the back of the property well away from the front where they can hear what is going on, I notice the property is well fenced with a high wooden one. the back might be better maybe then that is not for us to decide it is up to them to use their common sense?
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