The Whāngarei District Council (WDC) is seeking public feedback on dog rules as part of its review of the Dog Management Policy and Bylaw, which is required every 10 years.
A variety of issues are covered by the Dog Management Policy and Bylaw including where you can and cannot take your dog, beach access rules during summer, nuisance and dangerous dogs, and dog welfare.
A Raumanga-Otaika resident said the review was long overdue and she is “really rapt to hear something is finally being done”.
After moving to Whāngarei three years ago, she describes how out-of-control dogs have severely impacted her family’s lives. When they first moved, she and her grandson would walk to and from school every day.
“It was only really a matter of months before the situation with rushing dogs, roaming dogs and a very, very close attack on us both resulted in us having to get taxis to and from school for many months before other alternative transportation was arranged.”