Access to water to drink or swim. 
Kerr-Taylor Reserve has a creek running through but its polluted and dogs aren’t allowed on beaches unleashed at any time.

Flat area to exercise larger dogs. 
In Western Park the only flat section is by a busy Ponsonby Road by the sports field and playground.

 Suggestions about time restrictions on parks have been made, however even the media find it funny when a working party suggests a time period of 5am-8am in the mornings. These suggestions have lead to Dogs Offline Group being formed – a group of community minded dog owners looking to get some reasonable areas for exercise. Its time to bring the balance back and get councillors actually thinking about dogs in their community. After all dogs are part of our community and society - they aren't going away, and I for one am thankful.

Suzanne Wecke   
(Picture: Suzanne Wecke and her dog, Mara at a previous Grey Lynn D.O.G. meeting.)

From Pets on the Net...
Since D.O.G.s first meeting earlier in May 2003, two new stories about dogs have hit the headlines around Auckland City.  The East Coast Bays Courier highlighted a couple being fined $200.00 for letting their dog off the leash to have a swim on a cold deserted Suburban beach.  And the following week we hear of Auckland Dog Control officers not taking action when a member of the public stopped them to point out two roaming dogs, but then drove off without making any attempt to pick up the roaming dogs. 

The whole situation is starting to look somewhat unbalanced as a result of the constant barrage of new rules and hard nosed attitude of some local councils and their dog rangers.  And that is why a group of respectable Grey Lynn Citizens have got together to present to their Community Board and council some rational ideas and perspectives on what they, as fee paying licensed dog owners expect in return.  Not only do they pay license fees but they are also ratepayers.  Add to that, most of the dog owners at the meeting were also parents with children.  It would appear these people are being unfairly discriminated against.  Wouldn’t you agree? 

In an effort to further their cause and bring some respect and common sense back into the wider community, D.O.G. as they are known are also planning a wider community event that will help all dog owners throughout New Zealand. 

If you would like to know more about D.O.G. and what they are doing for their community, you can go to the D.O.G. website and catch up there www.dog.org.nz or meanwhile contact Suzanne Wecke direct on maragsd@xtra.co.nz. 

Maybe it’s time we had a few more D.O.G.s let loose around New Zealand!  If your K9 community feels it is loosing control, get your community organised, or at least, write to your MP, or the Minister of Local Government – Chris Carter.  

You can contact the Minister at ccarter@ministers.govt.nz, or you will find your local MP at the government website www.govt.nz/en/home  

Have your say, click to go to the Pets on the Net Message Board.

Copyright Pets On The Net^TM 2003.

Juicy Bones D.O.G. News

COUNCIL WARNS OFF DOG PROTESTERS
16th July 2003

If the ‘Family Dog Day Out’ being organised by an Auckland Dog Owners in Western Park this Sunday is a ‘public assembly’ it is illegal, according to a City Council Manager.

The mass dog walk has been organised by DOG (a group representing over 500 Auckland dog owners) for noon on Sunday to protest against the Auckland City Council’s attempts to restrict off leash access for dogs in city parks. 

In an email yesterday to DOG President Dr Cathy Casey President, Environmental Health Officer Jacqueline McDougall warned 

”It has been brought to our attention that your organisation, DOG, has organised a Family Dog Day Out on Sunday, 20 July at Western Park.  It is assumed you have arranged to use this park as it is a designated dog exercise area, however are you aware of the requirements of council's dog bylaw section 12.2.7 which states ‘No dog shall be permitted to go within 10 metres of any playground, which is owned or under the control of the Council, or to be on any park or reserve where a public assembly is taking place at that time. There is concern that your organisation is planning an event in contravention of council's bylaw and would not be considered responsible dog ownership.  Also I note that you have not officially booked the use of the park through council's events and film facilitation department as any one who plans this type of activity is also required to do.  Should you have contacted us before the event we would have been able to assist you in facilitating a complying event.”

 Dr Casey says she was stunned by the warning.

“I’m not sure when a gathering of dogs and owners becomes a ‘public assembly’ for the purposes of the bylaw, but I have informed Ms McDougall that we are going ahead with our protest regardless.”

Ms McDougall has told Dr Casey that dog control officers will be in attendance on the day. 

“I asked her if they would be issuing tickets and she replied that they would be there to ensure that the dogs are under control and not fighting with each other.  I believe this threat of action by dog control officers is a another knee jerk reaction by Council to try to prevent lawful protest action,” Dr Casey said.   

What happened on the day of the "assembly?" click here...
FEEDBACK on this story on our Message Board

DOG CELEBRATES 500 MEMBERS!

COME TO OUR FAMILY DOG DAY OUT, NOON SUNDAY 20 JULY 2003, WESTERN PARK

A dog owners group (DOG) recently set up to battle for the rights of dog owners in Auckland has reached 500 members in just three weeks. President Cathy Casey says that most have people have joined up on line through their new website www.dog.org.nz

"Dog owners have been looking for a group that is prepared to do battle and our membership is growing daily. It's fair to say that most dog owners in Auckland are pretty fed up with the Auckland City Council and the Government at the moment. It feels like we are being hammered from all sides. People are now realising that there is strength in collective action."

DOG is active at a local and a national level Dr Casey says "We are currently heavily involved in lobbying the Auckland City Council for off leash access to the city's parks and we have also written a very strongly worded submission against the new dog control legislation."

Dr Casey says that off leash access to local parks is the hot issue for owners at the moment and the website advises on what action can be taken:

"The Council has forgotten that most dogs live in families and if the family dog is banished from the local park, the family is too.

To reinforce that message, DOG is holding a Family Dog Day in Western Park on Sunday 20 July (rain or fine) and is inviting all interested dog owners to come along.

"We are encouraging families to bring the dog, the kids and a picnic lunch along to Western Park at noon and enjoy the company of other dog families. There's something special about watching your dog running free."

Dr Casey says a number of dog-owning celebrities have been invited. All media are welcome.

Membership is D.O.G. is $5. Further information from: www.dog.org.nz



D.O.G. AGM Thursday 29th. D.O.G. is back!
by Dr Cathy Casey


Dr Casey says that there is an enormous amount to frustration and anger among law-abiding dog owners in Auckland. 

“Like everyone, we are horrified at the attack on Carolina.  But we feel that all dogs and their owners are bearing the brunt of the misdeeds of that one dog and its irresponsible owners and it’s just not fair.  Since the attack, responsible dog owners have borne the brunt of the City Council’s “blitz”. 

“Prior to the Carolina attack, responsible dog owners were welcome with their dogs off leash in most local parks.  Since the blitz, dog owners have virtually been evicted.   Now off-leash parks like Western Park are becoming overpopulated by owners and dogs from all over the city, looking for somewhere central where they can legally exercise and socialise their dogs off leash.   

“The ten Community Boards are currently looking at the use of parks in their local areas and we need to ensure that the views of responsible dog owners are heard.” 

Dr Casey says she is expecting a big turnout at the D.O.G. AGM. 

“D.O.G. evolved from a growing awareness amongst a group of dog owners that they needed to be better represented.  It was the issue of off leash access to the Meola Reef Reserve that galvanised a group of owners to form D.O.G.   At its peak it had a 200-member database. The current issue of dog off leash access to local parks is again highlighting the need for an authoritative group to advise and lobby local Community Boards and the City Councils on their dog control policies.  

“It is time once again for responsible dog owners to take collective action. D.O.G. is back in business.”