Cathy Casey: Off-leash shouldn't mean out of control

In the past few months, Cathy Casey's dogs - Pat (left) and Mitzi - have been attacked by bigger dogs while out walking.

Altercations with aggressive dogs in public spaces a reminder that owners must be mindful of others.

Auckland Council has many off-leash parks and beaches. They are great places for dogs to romp around, but they are not a free-for-all.

Care must be taken to ensure that dogs are safe to be around each other. The rule for off-leash areas is that dogs must be "under control". This is especially important for large, boisterous breeds.

I was very sad to read about the attack on Timaru woman Jo Hutchby's tiny 5-year-old chihuahua Harrison by a larger dog at Foster Dog Park in Rolleston, Canterbury. Harrison was attacked and killed by a German short-haired pointer. He died almost instantly after being picked up and shaken. This is a dog owner's worst nightmare.

Every dog owner is responsible for the behaviour of their animal. When owners act responsibly, dog exercise areas work well and can be fantastic places for pets and their humans to socialise. Owners of bigger dogs must ensure their dogs are not aggressive towards other dogs, particularly fearful smaller animals.

This summer I have had two altercations in off-leash areas where bigger aggressive dogs have attacked my two ageing little ones. Each incident left me feeling upset and vulnerable because I had to intervene to ward off the larger dog from continuing the attack.

I have two small Chinese-crested powder puffs, Mitzi and Pat. Both could rightly be termed geriatric in dog years. Mitzi is 13 and, although active, has failing eyesight and poor hearing. Pat is Mitzi's son. He is 11. For the last couple of years Pat has had arthritis in his hips. His lack of mobility means he is slow, stiff and unsteady on his feet.

While Mitzi was the victim of both assaults, in both cases I had intervene to stop the attack and also ensure that Pat was kept safe.

The first altercation was on a beach in Northland a few weeks ago. Myself and other family members were enjoying a quiet walk with the dogs. From out of nowhere a blue heeler ran at Mitzi, throwing her on to her back. Fortunately, the owner pulled her dog off and leashed it. I told her in no uncertain terms that her dog should be kept leashed if it was so aggressive. We were all upset by what happened.

The second incident was in my local off-leash park in Auckland. As I walked along the path, I could see in the distance a large Staffordshire bull terrier coming towards us. The owners were a little distance behind with two smaller dogs. The lead dog dropped to the ground and then ran at Mitzi.

It pinned her on her back, making her howl in fright. I yelled at the owners to leash their dog. They didn't. The dog then left Mitzi and saw Pat (who I had quickly leashed and put behind me).

The dog walked towards me. I told the owners that I would kick their dog if it came a step closer to Pat. I raised my foot and yelled at the dog and it retreated.

This incident was made much worse by the owner then telling me that his dog was "just playing".

A dog cannot make a judgement about what is appropriate "play".

Every owner must be aware of their responsibility to stop their dog causing nuisance or harm. It is shocking that a beloved family pet could lose its life in a dog park, as in the incident in Rolleston. Dog owners must have their dog under control in off-leash areas to prevent injury and trauma to other dogs.

Cathy Casey is an Auckland councillor and dog owner.

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