Dog owners have an important role to play in protecting New Zealand's native wildlife. Credit: Matthias Zomer
Formats and related files:
Forest & Bird recognises that dog owners and dog regulations have an important role to play in protecting some of our special wildlife.
Forest & Bird supports:
- The prohibition of dogs from areas of public land with high biodiversity value, particularly where there are species present that are vulnerable to dogs. Dogs should also be required to be on a leash in public spaces adjacent to such areas.
- The requirement that dogs be on a leash in bush areas where they may contribute to the spread of disease such as kauri dieback, cause other damage to a fragile environment, or represent a threat to ground-based wildlife.
- The adequate financing for the public education about, and enforcement of, dog regulations.
- The provision of informative and visible signage to raise the public’s understanding of biodiversity values and to clearly inform dog owners of regulations to protect these values.