Council staff have been getting complaints about dog owners failing to keep their dogs under effective control in many of the city's parks and on the streets.

If a dog is running around amongst other park users, away from its owner, it is not under control. The Council says owners must not let their dogs intimidate or annoy other park users if they want to continue having access to places where leashes are not required. It is possible that dogs could be banned from these parks if owners do not respect the rights of other users.

At last month’s meeting of the Christchurch City Council, councillors told the staff to investigate a bylaw which would make it illegal for dogs to be out without a leash.

According to staff who take calls from the public, many people find it frightening when an unknown dog rushes up to them, even if its owner is in sight. Because they do not know the dog, the callers say, they are scared the dog might bite them or their children.

Other callers say they talked to a dog owner who would not understand that their dog’s behaviour is not acceptable.

Animal control officers are patrolling areas that have been complained about and will issue infringement notices to owners who don’t keep their dogs under strict control. These have a penalty of $200.

Dog owners should visit the Council’s Dog Park at the Styx Mill Reserve on Hussey Road, which has a large fenced free run dog area and ponds for the animals to swim in. Other good places with facilities for dogs are The Groynes off Johns Road, Horseshoe Lake off Horseshoe Lake Road, Burwood Plantation off Waitakiri Drive, Radley Park off Cumor Tce, Victoria Park and Halswell Quarry off Kennedys Bush Road.