New Zealand Dog News

Reviewing the dog news in New Zealand with editors comments. Someone needs to keep reviewing how our dogs are doing in society.

March 21, 2007

Dog owners wait in line for review

Dog-lovers want a review of the rules covering off-leash exercise areas speeded up, but Auckland City Council says they'll have to wait.

A 2004 bylaw limits off-leash dogs to particular areas at certain times.

It's not due to be reviewed until 2009 but Hobson Community Board member Julie Chambers is among those calling for action sooner.

"With modern expectations of people walking and exercising more, and the need to walk and exercise dogs, I think it's reasonable for people to expect to be able to do it from their own home," she says.

"But there are large areas where people can't do this."

City councillor and former Dog Owners Group president Cathy Casey says dogs are the "forgotten population".

"For people with dogs, they're a part of the family - we want to take them to the same places.

"Dog walkers and owners are big park users. The council maintained we gained ground under the bylaw but we didn't."

"Any areas not designated off-leash can't be used as such, so we lost recognised areas that had been used through custom and practice over years."

MORE>>

When you read the whole article, you'll see that the dog owners are getting pissed off that there are no dog parks. And you wonder why people and their dogs go to a regular park and leave them off lead.

I'm not sure if people realise that the by-law REQUIRES that dogs are provided ADEQUATE exercise. That means that if you have a Border Collie or such a dog that requires high level of exercise, it is your DUTY as a dog owner to cater for their needs. Hence, the city council needs to get their act together and provide the space, otherwise dog owners will need to be 'criminals' and unleash their dogs in parks and beaches. Take that argument to the courts!!

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