Council signs on to look at dog control rules
Porirua City Council has included an audit of dog-control signs in its long-term plan.
It is aiming to have checked the city’s signage by the end of the year then to have started erecting any new signs by next July.
That’s good news for Clarissa Barsanti who has campaigned for more enforcement of dog control laws.
Her mother, Julia Jasmine, 66, received a broken knee and other injuries when an off-lead dog ran away from its owner and on to a beach in Plimmerton, knocking her over.
She had suffered from osteoporosis, a disease that left her bones brittle, and died from pneumonia last December.
‘‘We pay this council a lot of money in our rates and dog registration fees to ensure our public areas are safe with regard to dogs, so it is good to hear that something positive is being done.
‘‘Hopefully the new dog-control signs will include the dog control phone number so people know how to provide this intel and how to get help if required.
‘‘In the mean time, I will encourage people to provide the intel the council needs to direct dog-control officers to the locations during times where people still require some education.’’
As a general rule, dogs must be on-lead in all public places in Porirua, unless there is a sign making an exception.
Council spokesman James Jefferson said along with aiming to start putting up new signs by July, the council would also include funding for a dog park in the draft Long Term Plan 2018-2028.
‘‘The community will have the opportunity to consider this project alongside a range of others and have their say on this initiative.’’