Editorial: There's a need for dog safety

Dogs on beaches are causes problems in Tauranga. Photo/file

I was once attacked by a disabled dachshund.

With the kids on the beach at Fergusson Park, this unleashed mutt was waddling along sniffing the seaweed when suddenly it rushed at us like an attack dog.

The owner sauntered up smiling, saying "he won't hurt you".

Don't you just hate that when you narrowly save your child from a mauling and the owner comments "he is just playing". She said he had a bad leg so was "a bit neurotic".

I am a dog owner and dog lover. I welcome the investigation by Papamoa councillor Steve Morris to see if dog rangers could be more proactive.

Read more: Council looks at tougher dog rules

Many dog owners are responsible, keeping control of the dog and its mess and respecting others in public places like parks and beaches.

Others arrogantly flout rules, not just where dogs are allowed but not keeping them on a leash where appropriate so that they make it difficult for other dog walkers or people with children if big fluffy Lassie wants to bowl them over.

Most owners collect poop. Others don't and leave their mess which is lazy and disgusting and these people should not be allowed to own a dog.

So I am all for greater enforcement of existing rules.

But not keen on more restrictions where people can walk their dogs such as beaches, where Mr Morris says he has received complaints.

Notably the complaints are about "a small minority of dog owners" so their behaviour should be tackled rather than penalising the responsible owners and their dogs who enjoy our beaches.

Rather than bring in more restrictions to dog friendly areas, the council would be better working to outlaw breeds and cross-breeds that are clearly identified as dangerous as former councillor Murray Guy opined on our Facebook page.

Yet as my brush with death with a dachshund shows, all dogs have potential to be dangerous, scary or a nuisance if owners do not comply with dog laws and in turn if these dog laws are not effectively enforced by council.

Bring on the rangers.