MEDIA RELEASE

20 October 2005

Summer dog rules keep beaches safe and clean for summer

Summer rules for exercising your dog on Auckland city's beaches are now in force.

The rules, with a couple of exceptions, are that from Labour Weekend until Easter 2006, dogs are not allowed on city beaches between 9am and 7pm.

When exercising your dog on the beach outside these hours, you must make sure that your dog is on a leash at all times and remove any faeces.

Some areas are prohibited to dogs at all times of year, including:

- the swimming area in front of the bathing sheds on St Heliers Beach

- safe swimming areas or lanes marked out or identified by Auckland City (including the marked "safe swimming lane" on Kohimarama beach)

- any area developed or marked out as a sports field (except for the spectator area) or skateboard park or within 10 metres of a playground.

"By following these rules, dog owners are taking responsibility for their pets and helping to make our beaches safe and clean," says Warren Adler, Auckland City's service requests manager.

"I would advise dog owners to find out more about dog exercise rules for Auckland city so that pets and their owners can enjoy the city's beaches and parks in a responsible way this summer," he says.

For more information on Auckland City's dog exercise areas, please visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dogs/exercise or call Auckland City on (09) 379 2020.

ENDS

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