27 April 2023
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Dogs off-leash in forest
Enquiry
I'm working on a story about there being an increasing number of dogs in the Redwoods who are off-lead, against the council's bylaws. We have been contacted by members of the community about this.
In light of the above, I was hoping you could help me get better context by providing attributable answers to the following questions:
- Anecdotally, has the council received more complaints about dogs being off-lead in the past six months? What could be contributing to this behaviour?
- Anecdotally, has the council issued more fines and/or infringement notices to dog owners in the last six months?
- What are the council's advice and penalties for dog owners regarding the use of the Redwoods / Whakarewrewa forest?
- What are the risks and problems that can arise from having dogs off lead in the woods?
Basically, the purpose of the first two questions is to establish whether it is the council's perspective that there have been more dogs off-lead in the forest in the last six months or not.
Response
From DCE Community Wellbeing Anaru Pewhairangi:
Community safety is a key priority for the council.
Roaming dogs can lead to rushing incidents or attacks, on people or other animals, and this is particularly prevalent during summer when more people are outdoors. These types of incidents can be avoided through responsible ownership.
We want to remind dog owners of their responsibilities and encourage people to contact us for any animal control-related support – we’re here to help.
Under the Dog Control Act owners are responsible for ensuring their dogs are secure on a property at all times, under control when out in public – even if off-leash – and are properly cared for.
Council’s Dog Control Bylaw requires dogs to be on a leash when out in public, with the exception of designated areas where they are allowed off-leash.
In the area encompassing Tokorangi Forest (also known as the Redwoods), the Scion area between Te Ngae Road and Te Tokorangi Road (formerly Long Mile Road) is where dogs are allowed off-leash. Dogs are required to be on a leash in the Tokorangi Forest (on the other side of Te Tokorangi Road) and in the adjacent Whakarewarewa Forest. This is to ensure safety and enjoyment of these areas for all users.
Council has received 1384 reports about dogs off-leash during the past six months (October to March inclusive 2023). This is for the entire district and is up from the previous six months (April to September inclusive 2022) when we received 1304 calls. We do not have figures specifically related to the forest but can say that reports about dogs being off-leash in the forest are rare.
Penalties for not having a dog under control, which includes having a dog off-leash in an area where they must be on a leash, range from an instant $300 fine to a fine of up to $3000 if prosecuted.
Of the total 613 animal control infringement notices issued in the Rotorua district during the past six months, 43 were for dogs being unleashed.