Dogs and beaches can go together just fine

SOON after I arrived in Dunedin, I took my dogs for a walk to St Kilda Beach. My dogs — two dachshunds and a Jack Russell — bit a young boy. With the help of the boy’s family, I rounded the dogs up, and remained to apologise and offer my contact information to the distressed family.

The boy’s mother looked at me, tears in her eyes: ‘‘Your dogs bit my son’’. ‘‘I know,’’ I responded. ‘‘I am so sorry.’’

Shortly after, maybe a day or so, I was contacted by a guy from animal control. The family did not wish to see the dogs put down. Had they wished it, I would have complied.

People and wildlife should be able to be on the beach without being savaged by dogs. Two of my dogs now have to wear muzzles when out and about.

In response to Richard Laimbeer (Letters, 17.4.21), I use this pretty awful story to point out: I was issued with an infringement notice, so the number issued is at least one.

Most dog owners are responsible people. I did not think for a second my dogs were being ‘‘cute’’. The incident was totally my fault because I failed to manage my dogs properly.

St Kilda Beach is not inhabited by packs of roaming ‘‘mastiff dog crosses’’ and covered in mountains of dog poop. St Kilda is pristine, compared to some other New Zealand beaches.

Dunedin animal control is switched on, works hard and tries to find solutions in what can be dreadful and emotional situations. It works with empathy and with one purpose within the law — to protect the public and wildlife.

If Richard, or anyone, feels threatened on the beach, or notices offleash shenanigans involving wildlife, they need to notify animal control.

A total ban on dogs on the beach, which I suspect is his agenda, is certainly not justified.

Susan Grant

Mornington

[Abridged]

Colonisation

THANK you, Kim Cope Tait, for your article (Opinion, 13.4.21), setting out so clearly the lasting damage of colonisation.

Look at the recent trouble in Northern Ireland: many there are still suffering after hundreds of years of English colonisation.

New Zealand has a better chance of not facing ongoing disruptions if Pakeha acknowledge the wrongs done in the past and teach children at school the true history of the methods used by Pakeha to colonise/conquer the land and people.

Kathleen Kenrick

Roslyn

Dunedin Hospital

ON April 5, I was brought to the Emergency Department by the wonderful staff at St John ambulance. I was treated very well and efficiently.

My problem was diagnosed quickly; then treated. The staff in ED saved my life.

I was then cared for very well in Ward 7B, and am now home after a short stay.

I found the whole process, from ED to the Cath Lab, to special care in 7B, to be exemplary.

J. Sutherland

Dunedin

Climate strike

ANOTHER letter, another demand that children protesting government inaction on climate change start at home: ‘‘Throw out your goodies and walk to school (Letters, 16.4.21).’’

Seven billion humans are facing a crisis. It requires an immediate global response.

We adults have robbed the children of anything resembling the future we had — stable climate, own homes, optimism — is that not enough?

Anyway, who woke the world up? Greta Thunberg, aged 15. Not New Zealand.

Punching above our weight, emissions have soared. Why are adults not protesting?

Dennis Horne

Howick ...................................

BIBLE READING: God will have a house in heaven for us to live in. — 2 Corinthians

5.1.