Incentivising ‘good' dog owners, improving welfare, and deciding where dogs are required to be on a leash are key issues up for discussion as dog rules in the Western Bay come under review.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council begins the review of its Dog Control Policy and Bylaw today, titled ‘Dogs of the Western Bay'.

Residents are encouraged to have their say on what changes they'd like to see by visiting the online discussion forum open from January 20 – February 29.

People can also speak to staff and elected members in person at the Katikati and Te Puke A&P shows, and at Council's upcoming Doggy Day Out in Omokoroa on March 5.

Key issues identified for the review include: assisting with the disposal of dog poo in public places; improving welfare standards; creating off-leash exercise areas; public place restrictions; neutering ‘menacing' dogs; and incentivising good dog owners.

Council's Acting Group Manager Policy Planning and Regulatory Services, Chris Watt, says these are the main issues that have emerged over recent years through discussions with dog owners and non-dog owners in the District.

A taste of the Dogs of the Western Bay project website, featuring Alfie the abandoned Jack Russell.

'With more than 8000 registered dogs in the Western Bay, these issues are often at the forefront of discussions with residents.

'As the District's population – and subsequently the number of dogs – grows it's important we get these areas right. On the website we're asking a series of questions related to these issues so we hope people will tell us what they think.”

Key questions include:

Should Council provide incentives for ‘good' dog owners?

Where should dogs be required to be on a leash, and do we need to simplify current restrictions?

Could Council do more to help you better deal with dog poo?

Should Council do more to help dogs living in inadequate conditions, and how?

Should Council make it a legal requirement for dogs classified as menacing or caught roaming repeatedly to be neutered?

Chris says this is the first stage of the review. Feedback gathered from the community will help shape the proposed changes in the draft policy and bylaw.

'Once a draft policy and bylaw has been adopted we will go out to our communities for feedback on the proposed options.”

The Dog Control Policy details the control and management of dogs in the District, while the Bylaw enables Council to enforce the policy.

Western Bay Council's Dog Control Policy and Bylaw was last reviewed in 2011.

To have your say visit haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/dogs-of-the-western-bay

A furry face of the review

Council is taking a different approach to this review – opting to make one of its abandoned puppies the face of the discussions.

Alfie the young Jack Russell was brought to Council, abandoned and injured at six months old. Needing time for his leg to heal, and to undergo training before he can be put into the Adopt-a-Dog programme, he's become Council's ‘spokesdog' for the policy and bylaw review.

All of the material and questions for Dogs of the Western Bay have been posed from Alfie's point of view.

'We wanted to get people thinking about issues from a dog's point of view – but also simplify the key messages and make things easy to understand,” says Chris.

'Alfie is also an awesome dog, not only has he captured the hearts of staff here, but he represents the unfortunate dogs that are unwanted or mistreated in our District.

'As welfare is one of the key issues for this review, it seemed timely to put Alfie's face out in the public eye.”

Alfie will be attending the ‘have your say' events at the A&P shows and Doggy Day Out for anyone who's interested in meeting him – he will be needing a new home soon!