There is a $300 fine for leaving dog droppings in public, but a council spokesman said it was hard to issue infringements unless the dog and owners were witnessed by a council officer or could be easily identified.
Earlier this year, council staff noticed an increase in "uncollected dog mess" at the gardens.
No fines had been issued at the gardens since 2022. It added extra patrols this year as a result.
The council had still not issued any fines this year and only one warning, to a dog owner at Cape Wanbrow.
Two dog walkers were caught on one of the seven security cameras installed at the gardens this week.
The council posted an image of the pair and their pooping pets to its social media to bring attention to the issue.
"We know they left something behind that they should have picked up and put in a bin.
"Part of being a responsible dog owner in Waitaki is looking after your pet. That includes picking up their poo."
Last year the council asked to hear from the public about reform to Waitaki’s dog bylaws.
Twenty-two of those public responses mentioned "picking up after dogs".
"Some respondents wanted increased fines for not picking up after a dog, or for not carrying poo bags.
"We know how frustrating it is for responsible dog owners and the wider community that some people leave their mess for others to find."
Council will be holding a formal consultation on the draft dog bylaw and control policies in July.
