Tauranga dog owners are making the most of free doggy doo bags being supplied in city parks, with some dispensers having to be topped up weekly.
In an effort to keep Tauranga's parks clean and green, the Tauranga City Council installed 20 dog waste bag dispensers in local parks last April.
Animal Services team leader Brent Lincoln says the trial has been so successful that another 10 dispensers have been installed.
'We've had hugely positive feedback about them and all indicators are that people are using them responsibly and putting them in the bin when they have finished. It's been a brilliant success.”
The council monitors complaints about dog poo around the city and as a result has moved some of the less-used dispensers to areas where the demand is greater.
Brent says most dispensers are topped up monthly, with the dispensers at Fergusson and Memorial Parks topped up weekly.
Dog owner Peter Pratt, who walks his dog Skye around Waikareao Estuary, says the dispensers are a great idea and he has noticed a decrease in the amount of doggy droppings along the boardwalk over the past three months.
There are about 11,000 registered dogs in the Tauranga City Council area – one for every 10 people. Dog owners who don't scoop their dog's poop in a public place risk a fine of $300.
An example of the dog waste bag dispensers.
9 comments
Arrogant owners
Posted on 13-02-2017 07:50 | By peecee09
Council officers need to police dog regulations on the Mount. People are ignoring the law and taking dogs around the Mount track and on the main beach where they are banned. Make an example of a few and it might stop these people ignoring the law.
its on the rate payers again
Posted on 13-02-2017 08:18 | By hapukafin
Why cant all dog owners be responsible for supplying their own bags for their dogs pooooo
Agreed
Posted on 13-02-2017 08:56 | By penguin
I have also seen some blatant disregard for the by-laws at Pilot Bay. Incidentally, the "doggy do" system was successfully trialed at Long Bay Regional Park (Auckland) in the late 1980's!
Frustrated
Posted on 13-02-2017 09:49 | By Coly
I proposed this solution of providing doggy bags at walkways to the council approx 5 years ago and the council told me that they wouldn't establish this because it was the dog owners responsibility. Thankfully now they have woken up and put this great idea in place but would of been nice a to have them some time ago!
Well done Tauranga Council
Posted on 13-02-2017 12:38 | By Johnnyk
You can never keep everyone happy even when it is common sense!! This has been a success in Nelson for years. Well done Tauranga Council
Dog Wardens
Posted on 13-02-2017 16:33 | By sangrae
I agree with peecee09 only yesterday there a least 3 dogs and owners walking around the Mt and a lge no on the main beach come on council police your laws a few fines might make dog owners wake up?
Hey
Posted on 13-02-2017 17:06 | By Jimmy
is your fin stuck firmly in your cheek?, or do you not know that Tauranga has one of the most expensive dog registration fees in NZ, we have paid for a archaic service for years , even supplying "poo bags" is only 10 years behind Nelson!, and not before time!!!, as a responsible dog owner of over 40 years I supply my own, and never run my dogs in these areas anyway, terrific to see the use.
@Hapukafin
Posted on 13-02-2017 17:15 | By BennyBenson
I guess the same reason ratepayers pay for things like kids playgrounds & sports fields even though only a portion use them.
Not just for dog owners!!!!
Posted on 14-02-2017 14:50 | By Jimmy
Now all you responsible dwellers on our harbour shores who wisely decided to allow Black Swan and Canada geese to takeover, can they now use a "poo bag" please to clean up after them!.
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