Some Auckland dog parks could require leashes, under a council proposal. (File photo) Photo: 123rf
Auckland dog owners are grouping together to fight changes to dog rules in the city.
An Auckland Council proposal would see some off-leash parks become leash only, as well as further restrictions on dogs running free at some beaches.
Madills Farm in Orakei is a popular reserve just blocks back from the beach, which has a network of paths around sports fields and currently has a significant off-leash dog area.
It is one of the parks earmarked for changes.
Dog owner Claudia Elze is among those fighting the plan and spoke to Checkpoint's Lisa Owen, and said she felt the move would prioritise sports over other users.
"I think we're heading into a direction where this park is going to become sport-only, and there's so many people in this community that meet down there and share time down there, and walk their dogs and ride their bikes and use the fields for other purposes, not just sports and dogs.
"It's a really huge change for us in the community."
Madills Farm has a number of sports fields already, and Auckland Council told Checkpoint that in most other parks around Auckland, you cannot have a dog off leash on a sports field so it would be bringing this park in line with other parks.
"I think when you've got a park like Madills and Glover Park (nearby) we've got a situation of, where else do you go?"
A perimeter path around the park that may be used for dogs is cluttered with other traffic and difficult terrain, she said.
"None of us want our dogs to run through a sports game, it's dangerous for our dog and it's really embarrassing when it happens."
"We've got people down there that have been going for 40 years that have just been completely overwhelmed now by more lights, more activity down there, more parking issues with sports. We need to learn how to share that space and have no change to that."
Dog owners also need to take responsibility for their animals, she admitted, as other users need to be aware of their own rubbish.
"I think we all need to step up and figure out how we're going to share this space so that it works for everybody and figure it out.
"For council to basically override the entire (local) board, this is a huge decision they're making.
"It's really, really scary when you look at the submissions and how difficult that has been for so many people and that's what started this group and this is why we're battling on and trying to get as many submissions as we possibly can."
In a statement to Checkpoint, Auckland Council said it welcomes feedback during the consultation period and encourages dog users to have their say.
It said the wider proposals aim to keep a mix of dog-friendly and dog-free spaces so there are places for dogs and anyone who is not a dog person to enjoy.
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