Public urged to tackle dog-poo issue

Susan Cochrane is calling for the council to use money collected from dog registrations to install specifically designed poo bins. Photo / Andrew Warner

Dog owners face a $300 fine for not picking up their pet's poo but no one has been stung yet despite Tauranga City Council receiving numerous complaints.

However, Mount Maunganui-Papamoa ward councillor Steve Morris said the public had a role to play and should not let "feral people who do this disgusting behaviour and don't have any shame" get away with it.

"At the end of the day it's individual responsibility and we have to lift our game. I know several residents in Papamoa who give dog owners who let their dog do a poo a piece of their mind and I think that is quite valuable."

Animals and Enforcement team leader Brent Lincoln said it had not issued any fines in relation to the offence that fell under the Dog Control Bylaw.

"We get very few complaints where the dog is actually proven to have defecated. Instead we often issue a $300 fine for the dog not being under proper control."

It received 17 complaints from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, and six from July 1, 2014, to September 30, 2014.

"Council receives complaints about some of the main beach accessways and some walkways such as the Lakes."

It was installing signs at many of the locations advising owners to "scoop the poop".

But The Dog House owner Susan Cochrane questioned why the council was not using money collected from dog registrations to have bins specifically for dog-poo: "I know in Rotorua they have free dog bags and dog-shaped bins in parks and areas."

She felt registration fees paid by responsible dog owners were being used for facilities, including the pound, to pay for the bad dog owners who failed to register.

Dog poo was an increasing nuisance on the streets in Papamoa East, where she lived, she said.

Dog Training Tauranga owner Susie Jones said dog faeces was a health hazard, although most owners picked it up. Some people felt embarrassed about cleaning up after a dog, she said.

"You find it is more men and young children that are embarrassed, while women are used to cleaning up."

She agreed there should be designated dog-poo bins.

Pet Essentials owner Wendy Hill said it had become unacceptable for people "to just leave poo lying around". It sold a range of dog-poo bags including bio-degradable ones.

Mr Morris said the issue with dog bins was vandalism and people taking all the bags. Resourcing restricted what the council could do.

Tauranga Registered Dogs
• October 31, 2013 - 9909 registered
• October 17, 2014 - 10,501 registered

The dog-control bylaw
• The bylaw provides that the owner of any dog that defecates in a public place, private way, land or premises must remove the faeces immediately.
• There is a $300 fine for failing to do so.
• If you wish to report a dog owner, phone council on 577 7000.
• The more information you can provide the better to resolve the issue.
• The council motto was "Your Dog, Your Job - Scoop the Poop"
- source Tauranga City Council.