Dog owners snappy over proposed bylaws

By ANNE BESTON

Around 200 Auckland dog owners and their dogs had no trouble making themselves heard on a "Barkfest" march up Queen St yesterday.

They were protesting against proposed new rules for dog exercise areas which ban dogs from sports fields and place time restrictions on traditional off-lead areas.

The Auckland City Council will vote on the issue on Wednesday.

March organiser Neil Harker said dog owners were incensed by the planned revamp.

Community boards, which were lobbied for months on the issue, had passed the job to Auckland City Council staff.

The plan put together by community boards had been changed by staff for the final draft and dog owners were being treated like criminals, he said.

Eastern suburbs residents had lost the Shore Rd exercise area dog owners had used for 30 years. Other nominated areas were swamps, dense bush or strips of grass by busy roads.

Mr Harker said the Auckland Dog Owners Group had consulted a QC and was prepared to take the council to court. "Our lawyer has said he will help us fight this if necessary."

The mauling of young Aucklander Carolina Anderson in an inner-city park in January was a "unique" incident and dog bites in parks just did not happen, he said.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks attended the protest and expressed support for dog owners.