Dogs under control, please

New Zealand fur seals relax at Sandymount, on Otago Peninsula. Photo by John Barklad.
New Zealand fur seals relax at Sandymount, on Otago Peninsula. Photo by John Barklad.
Dog owners are being reminded they could face prosecution or fines if their dog disturbs, harasses, harms, injures or kills a protected New Zealand fur seal.

After fatal dog attacks on fur seals on Otago beaches recently, the Department of Conservation (Doc) and Dunedin City Council are reminding owners to control their dogs around seals.

Young fur seals are common along Otago's coast at this time of year, as they have left their mothers and struck out on their own.

Doc conservation services manager for Coastal Otago David Agnew said they were very vulnerable to dog attacks.

''It's essential that dog owners keep their dogs under control and, even better, on a leash when there's a seal on the beach.''

It was an offence under the Marine Mammals Protection Act to disturb, harass, harm, injure or kill a seal and a dog owner whose dog attacked a seal could face prosecution, he said.

Anyone charged under the Act faced a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or a fine to a maximum of $250,000.

The city council oversaw compliance with dog control bylaws. Senior animal services officer Peter Hanlin said it was the responsibility of owners to keep their dog under control at all times. People should report dogs that were not under control to the council, he said.

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