Dogs at the beach
During spring and summer, a lot of wildlife enjoys the Westland shoreline. To ensure the safety and well-being of both our furry friends and the native species, we kindly ask dog owners to keep their pets on leashes and maintain a respectful distance from any wildlife encountered.
We ask that you be mindful of native wildlife at the beach and avoid allowing dogs to be off the leash above the high tide line, in dunes, and areas of beach-side vegetation. Little Blue Penguins and other protected endangered species are known to inhabit and nest on foreshores across much of the West Coast, including our local environs here in Hokitika.
Why the leash?
- Protecting Our Wildlife: Many protected species, including Little Blue Penguins, inhabit the foreshores of the West Coast. Leashes help prevent dogs from disturbing their habitats or causing them distress.
- Ensuring Your Dog’s Safety: Dogs can be curious creatures and may approach wildlife without realizing the potential risks. Keeping them on a leash can prevent accidents and injuries.
- Responsible owner: Dog owners are responsible for the behaviour of their dogs. When you walk your dog in an off-leash area, you need to have voice or whistle recall. If you are uncertain that your dog will return when you call it, you should keep it on a leash, which can be long line. You can purchase good quality, kiwi-made leashes from companies like Real Dog and Kiwi Canine.
Keep the beach clean
Responsible dog owners collect their dog’s poo.
It may not seem like an important environmental concern, but dog poo can cause more damage than a mess on the bottom of your shoe. One dog poo contains enough e-coli bacteria to contaminate an Olympic size swimming pool (around 3 million litres of water). A single gram of dog poo can contain up to 23 million faecal coliform bacteria! Dog waste can also spread parasites such as hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, ringworms, tapeworms, Parvovirus and Salmonella.
Let’s work together to protect our beautiful coastline and wildlife.
