Latest news with #offleash
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Dog owners granted temporary reprive over off-leash ban at popular Auckland park
Auckland Council proposed dog access changes at the park after dogs were off-leash in areas they shouldn't be. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Dog owners advocating for an off-leash area at a popular Auckland park have been granted a last minute reprieve - for now. The High Court has granted an interim order allowing dogs to run off-leash in the bowl area of Monte Cecilia Park. It will continue until a judicial review is heard into a decision by the Puketāpapa Local Board to ban off-leash dogs there as of next Friday. The board voted four to two in favour of removing it after concerns were raised about owners letting dogs run free in areas where they were meant to be on-leash. It is part of a wider plan to review dog rules at parks and beaches. Acting chairperson of Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia, Shireen Chua, told Checkpoint they were feeling a range of emotions in light of the decision. "There is a sense of elation, excitement, gratitude. Our community has another day getting together, walking our parks and the Monte Cecilia bowl." However, the victory is only temporary, with the High Court hearing now looming. "The process from here is that the Auckland Council will have the opportunity to send through their statement of defence and that will come through by August. And then we will have a hearing in the High Court." Chua said the group's decision to push back against the council came down to a number of reasons. "We didn't feel heard, seen or respected. The decision that the local board took went against internal staff advice. Eighty-percent of public feedback in the strong community that was there were not heard. "We felt that the decision was predetermined and it was made in contrary to the council's dog policy and also in breach of the council's obligations under the Local Government Act." When the group took its argument to the council Chua said it consisted of about 1000 members, a number which has jumped to 1200 over the past few weeks. "Predominantly it started with a whole group of us in the community here, but it's got broader than that now. "Other dog owners in other parts of other areas have started to go, 'hey, I guess this is a really sort of important topic for all of us'." Currently the cost of judicial review has been funded by members of the community, with the legal fees being covered pro bono. "We intend to raise funds in order to fund the remaining part of the Judicial Review and we have got a whole bunch of folks from the community who are selling coffee for the Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia." The group has also received support from a dog groomer who is contributing $10 towards the judicial review for anyone that takes their dog to be groomed, as well as a Givealittle page. One of the reasons Auckland Council proposed dog access changes at the park was due to dogs being off-leash in areas of the park where they should already be on-leash. But Chua said since the review, the group had seen a slow shift in compliance, and was now issuing a plea to members to stick to the rules. "As responsible dog owners, we do want to comply with the law. "We hope to eventually also initiate a social say the park is for everyone and we want that to be the case." General manager of Policy at Auckland Council, Louise Mason, told Checkpoint that as the decision was before the court, Auckland Council could not comment at this time. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dogs getting new place to play in Union County
RAHWAY – A new dog park will be coming to the city on Union County land. The City Council recently approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with Union County to develop a new dog park in a vacant section of the county-owned Wheatena Park, off West Grand Avenue. The new park will be a fully fenced, off-leash space with shade trees, benches and separate areas for large and small dogs. The site design will prioritize safety, accessibility and comfort for pets and their owners. The project is being funded through a $500,000 award from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs as part of a Fiscal Year 2024 legislative grant program. The grant will allow the city to cover engineering, permitting and construction of the dog park without using local taxpayer funds. 'As someone who has a couple of very energetic dogs at home, I'm especially excited about this project,' stated Mayor Raymond Giacobbe. 'This is something that will not benefit the dogs of our city, but the entire Rahway community. We want neighbors to have places to meet, relax, and connect. And sometimes, that starts with a couple of dogs chasing each other around a field.' More: How to help the animal shelter that 'lost everything' during NJ flooding Under the terms of the agreement the city will oversee the design and building process and the county will retain ownership of the land. Construction is expected to begin later this year or early next spring. Email: srussell@ Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Union County opening dog park in Rahway at Wheatena Park Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tails wagging in southwest Winnipeg as new off-leash dog park opens
A new space for dogs and their people opened with tail wags and ball-chasing in Winnipeg's Whyte Ridge neighbourhood Saturday. The new off-leash dog area at the Whyte Ridge Community Centre, on Fleetwood Road just east of Brady Road, was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, replacing a space for dogs that operated seasonally at an outdoor hockey rink. Whyte Ridge Community Centre president Kirill Pirgalin said until now, there weren't a lot of options for residents in the fast-growing residential area to take their pets. "Now, we're just at a walking distance or short drive, and it's just perfect," he said. The all-season park is fully fenced in and spans over a quarter of a hectare, the city said in a news release. It has seating areas, sealed pet waste containers and a gated entry vestibule, and is close to other community facilities like the playground and soccer fields. Although other off-leash dog parks are bigger, Whyte Ridge resident Ian Rumbolt said he's happy to have one that's closer to home. "I feel like [dog parks] are kind of spread out, so to have one in our neighbourhood now is just fantastic," said Rumbolt, who visited the new park with his Jack Russell terrier, Mose. "We just knew we would use it." The new park was also welcome news for Anne Grewar, who would often drive to Kings Park in southeast Winnipeg, about 15 minutes away, to take her dog, Amber, off-leash. "It's nice to have something that's just accessible," she said. "This is really, really great. It's not just a big field with a fence.… There seems to be some thought" put into making an open and safe space for dogs, said Grewar. Area Coun. Janice Lukes is hoping the park will also offer an opportunity for residents to meet their neighbours and build community. "This may not be the largest park, but I know it's going to be very well used and loved," she said. The city invested $80,000 in the new park, which brings the number of designated off-leash sites in Winnipeg to 15, according to the city's website. In addition to those, a number of community centres open up their hockey rinks for pets between April and November. But Lukes wants more amenities like the Whyte Ridge off-leash park in the city. "We don't need to be driving everywhere," Lukes said. "I'm bent and determined to try and get another one here in the south end."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tails wagging in southwest Winnipeg as new off-leash dog park opens
A new space for dogs and their people opened with tail wags and ball-chasing in Winnipeg's Whyte Ridge neighbourhood Saturday. The new off-leash dog area at the Whyte Ridge Community Centre, on Fleetwood Road just east of Brady Road, was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, replacing a space for dogs that operated seasonally at an outdoor hockey rink. Whyte Ridge Community Centre president Kirill Pirgalin said until now, there weren't a lot of options for residents in the fast-growing residential area to take their pets. "Now, we're just at a walking distance or short drive, and it's just perfect," he said. The all-season park is fully fenced in and spans over a quarter of a hectare, the city said in a news release. It has seating areas, sealed pet waste containers and a gated entry vestibule, and is close to other community facilities like the playground and soccer fields. Although other off-leash dog parks are bigger, Whyte Ridge resident Ian Rumbolt said he's happy to have one that's closer to home. "I feel like [dog parks] are kind of spread out, so to have one in our neighbourhood now is just fantastic," said Rumbolt, who visited the new park with his Jack Russell terrier, Mose. "We just knew we would use it." The new park was also welcome news for Anne Grewar, who would often drive to Kings Park in southeast Winnipeg, about 15 minutes away, to take her dog, Amber, off-leash. "It's nice to have something that's just accessible," she said. "This is really, really great. It's not just a big field with a fence.… There seems to be some thought" put into making an open and safe space for dogs, said Grewar. Area Coun. Janice Lukes is hoping the park will also offer an opportunity for residents to meet their neighbours and build community. "This may not be the largest park, but I know it's going to be very well used and loved," she said. The city invested $80,000 in the new park, which brings the number of designated off-leash sites in Winnipeg to 15, according to the city's website. In addition to those, a number of community centres open up their hockey rinks for pets between April and November. But Lukes wants more amenities like the Whyte Ridge off-leash park in the city. "We don't need to be driving everywhere," Lukes said. "I'm bent and determined to try and get another one here in the south end."
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Police seek suspect after dog attack near Kensington Market
Video A person walking three dogs, two off-leash, is wanted by police after a dog attack left a victim injured near Kensington Market.
