Fewer beach offences after dog bylaw relaxed

Concerns were raised after the council changed its dog control bylaw in July 2005 to allow people more scope to walk their dogs off the leash on beaches.

Critics feared it might lead to greater risk of dog aggression and attacks, beach fouling and other incidents.

But independent observers and staff at many popular Rodney beaches, particularly on the Hibiscus Coast, reported very few dog bylaw offences.

Breaches dropped from one per hour last year to 0.5 per hour this year.

Even dog excrement seemed scarcer on beaches.

(...)

A serious dog attack in a public place is always possible regardless of bylaws, he says.

"But research shows more than 60 percent of dog bites occur either on the owner's property or immediately adjacent."

Thank you! If 60% of bites occur in owner's property, that means something... ie. perhaps dogs aren't being socialized enough?, perhaps too much territorial guarding? etc..