Warning: Contains coarse language.
An attack on a young sea lion at Blackhead beach this week highlights how important it is to keep dogs under control on Otago's beaches, New Zealand Sea Lion Trust trustee Shaun McConkey says.
The sea lion, "9010", or "Joy", featured in the Otago Daily Times yesterday, after the Department of Conservation issued a warning to dog owners using the track on which it had been residing, at the base of Lawyers Head.
It was not at the site on Monday but was seen that day with its mother at Blackhead by Mr McConkey.
While he was watching the pair, a dog raced up to them and danced around them but it soon turned more vicious with the dog lunging in for a couple of bites at the young sea lion.
"When the dog tried to bite her the second time I stopped filming and ran and chased it off."
The owner was more than 100m down the beach and was letting two dogs run all over the beach, he said.
"It's a concern, especially as a pup has been born at Blackhead before and disappeared and a pup would have no chance against a dog like that. It would have savaged it."
Thankfully, Joy was old enough to be of similar size to the dog and have tough enough skin to be not so vulnerable, he said.
People needed to be aware that even the least aggressive dogs could prove a problem to the animals breeding along Otago's coastline during the summer.
Doc marine ranger Jim Fyfe said he had heard of about six cases of dogs annoying sea lions.
He had referred these to the Dunedin City Council dog control officers because marine mammal legislation was very cumbersome.
Under the Dog Control Act, it was an offence to harass wildlife and a range of penalties including warnings and instant fines was available.
He advised Mr McConkey to refer the information he had about the dog owner to dog control also.
