Back in the doghouse

Two wandering dogs were fortunate not to have been hit by traffic on the Tauranga Harbour Bridge yesterday afternoon.

A black labrador staffordshire-cross and her 1-year-old pup were seen wandering around the marina end of the bridge about 3pm.

They escaped from their home in 18th Avenue earlier that day and became lost and disoriented, said Tauranga City Council's manager of environmental compliance and monitoring, John Payne.

The dogs were not registered or microchipped but their owner "was on to it enough" to contact the council as soon as he realised they were missing, Mr Payne said.

The council also received reports of dogs fitting their description wandering around Memorial Park.

Police kept the dogs in the marina's car park until an animal ranger arrived to take them to the pound.

The dogs were reunited with the owner after the appropriate fees were paid.

- APN