Dog Exercising areas
You can exercise your dog(s) on most of our beaches all year round, as long as you have your dog under control and do not allow it to walk up to people or their property uninvited.
There are some areas where you can’t take your dog, including Pilot Bay, Mauao, Mount Main Beach and Moturiki (Leisure Island). This includes walkways, boardwalks, grassed areas, the foreshore and the dunes. Dog-free areas are in place to protect nesting wildlife, and in places where there is high usage by the public.
The full list of dog-free areas, and information on leash control areas can be found on our animal services webpage.
Leash control or dog prohibited areas
Dog complaints
If you need to lodge a complaint about a dog, please call our contact centre on 07 577 7000.
Our response will vary depending on the type of complaint, the seriousness of the incident, and/or whether there have been any previous complaints. The options available to council are written warnings, abatement notices, infringement or prosecution. If it is a serious incident, it is likely the dog will be impounded until the matter is resolved.
More information on animal complaints
Dog attacks
To report a dog attack/dog bite, call the contact centre as soon as possible. We take dog attacks/bites very seriously and will act as quickly as possible.
Animal welfare
Any complaints about animal welfare, including animal ill-treatment or cruelty, should be made to Ministry of Primary Industries on 0800 00 83 33 or SPCA on 07 578 0245.
Sick, injured or dead wildlife, including penguins, seals, birds can be reported to the Department of Conservation (DoC) on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).