Keeping your dog safe in our region

Our regional parks have specific information on dog control. 

There may be further precautions that you need to take if there is a pest control operation happening in the area, or if there is a toxic algae bloom in a waterway that runs through the park.

To prepare for your visit, you should always:

• Check the regional park page for notices
• Check for signage at the entrance

Signage in parks changes regularly. Even if you are a frequent visitor, keeping an eye out for new notices is important for keeping your dog safe.

There are many parks and reserves in our region where other organisations might be undertaking pest control. To keep your dog safe in these locations you should always:

• Check for warning signs at park entrances
• Keep your dog on a lead until you are sure that it is safe and permitted to remove it
• Keep your dog with you and stay on the tracks
• Keep your dog from scavenging on animal carcasses or interacting with any devices

Find out about our current pest control operations.

During hot dry weather, toxic algae blooms can form in rivers, making the swimming sites especially dangerous for people and dogs.

Toxic algae is poisonous to people and dogs if ingested. A piece the size of a 50c coin is enough to kill a dog. Dogs are most at risk as they like the smell and taste of dried toxic algae, they are most susceptible when mats wash up at the river edges.

We monitor popular swimming spots over summer and issue warnings when dangerous blooms occur. There will be signage up near the area when an alert has been issued. However, we recommend that people learn how to spot toxic algae.

Find out more about what toxic algae looks like.

If there has been an alert issued, or you think you have spotted a toxic algal bloom:

• Keep your dog on a lead
• Keep your dog out of the water
• Ensure it does not eat any algal mats
• Check the LAWA website for live updates on where it is safe to swim

Sometimes, dead animals and fish can be swept down rivers, or wash up on beaches. Be sure to keep your dog away from these dead animals, as they can be harmful.

Dogs are extremely vulnerable to 1080 poisoning. As a dog owner it is important to be aware of the risks, and the ways which 1080 poisoning can be prevented.

The best thing you can do to ensure your dog’s safety is to stay informed about any operations that are happening, and ensuring you follow the guidelines in place. All Greater Wellington 1080 operations will be made public on our website.

Following 1080 operations, if there is a large flooding event it can cause a risk to dogs in areas outside of the operational area. This is because poisoned possums can wash down streams, and end up beaches. If a flood event occurs and this becomes a risk, signage will be installed for the caution period and warnings will be issued.

Find out about Greater Wellington 1080 operations in our region.

As well as our operations, Department of Conservation and OSPRI are also involved in 1080 pest control. We strongly recommend all dog owners stay up to date with these pest control operations in our region, not just those that we are leading.

Protecting your dog from 1080

Read more here

date_range Published 27 Mar 2023

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Prevention is better than any treatment available for poisoned dogs. Our advice is to familiarise yourself with the risks, and take the time to check for warnings that are in place in parks and reserves before you go.

If you suspect that your dog may have eaten toxic algae, a poisoned carcass, or toxic bait, it is important that you take it to the nearest vet immediately.

Make sure to tell your vet what you think your dog has eaten, so that they can give it the best treatment as quickly as possible.