Council encouraged to take the lead as dog show comes to no-dog town
Should Blenheim have an amnesty during the Black Hawk National Dog Show, to allow visitors and locals to take their dogs into the town centre?
Barely 30 minutes up the road, and dogs are welcome to wander through Picton's town centre ... on a leash, of course.
Same goes for Nelson, while neither Christchurch nor Oamaru have a problem with dogs in the central business district.
Wellington takes the same 'on-leash' approach.
Sarah Brown with her dogs, Fergie and Chloe, on the edge of Blenheim's CBD, where dogs are banned.
In fact, Blenheim is one of the few centres in New Zealand that bans dogs from the CBD.
READ MORE: National dog show picks Blenheim for first show outside larger centre
The maximum fine for non-compliance is $20,000.
The 2016 National Dog Show attracted all kinds of breeds to Canterbury.
There are approximately 10,000 registered dogs in Marlborough, and the Black Hawk National Dog Show, set down for four days in October next year, will likely bring in another 1400.
So, should Blenheim have an amnesty period during the show, to allow visitors and locals to take their dogs into the town centre?
Sarah Brown, a musician and responsible dog owner, thinks so.
Cardrona Alpine Resort just held a dog derby on Friday as part of the Queenstown Winter Festival.
"As long as they are under control, the owner picks up after them and they are safe to be around," she said.
"I would love to be able to take my dogs into town.
"I often take them to cafes and shops outside of the CBD, when they are allowed."
Marlborough District Council environmental protection officer and animal control contract manager Jane Robertson said an exception to the bylaw could be possible.
"There have been exceptions in the past, for specific dogs when SPCA have been doing collections, but never to allow just any dog to come into the CBD."
Out and about in Blenheim, most people reacted positively to the idea of relaxing the rules for the show.
Mrs Vercoes Diner manager Abigail Watson said that as long as the dog was well-behaved, it should "absolutely be allowed in town".
"If I was allowed to bring my dogs to town, I would. They're very well-behaved," she said.
Vodafone assistant manager Phil Skinner was on board with dogs being in town for the event, but otherwise maintaining the status quo.
"I think it's more an essence of making people feel safe," he said. "How it makes people feel, comfort-wise.
"But for something like that, then yes, absolutely. They should definitely let dogs in town for that reason."
Framers on Queen owner Richard Sampey thought dogs should be allowed in town anyway, "as long as they're on leads".
"If you travel overseas, you can take dogs into shops. It's a great idea."
Kevin Neal also thought an amnesty during the national show was a good idea.
"Everybody treats their dog like a person. What you put in a dog, training it, you reap later on."
Robertson said there was a bylaw review every 10 years.
"In Picton, they were very for having dogs in town. In Blenheim, they were very against."
The last review in 2012 saw more than 300 submissions from the public.
"It's a fairly emotive issue," Robertson said.
"People tend to have quite strong opinions on what should happen."
Joocy Loocy owner Guion Phillips said dogs were welcome in her cafe.
"We're pretty much on the Taylor River, we're well positioned. People love to walk their dog down the river."
Unsurprisingly, dogs were expected to be under tight control in the cafe.
Phillips was understanding about the dog ban.
"We do have to take other people into consideration," she said. "I think it's a bit sad.
"They're our companions. There are studies that show dogs are not only good for physical health but mental health as well."
The 65th Black Hawk National Dog Show will be held at the Marlborough Lines Stadium, in Blenheim, from October 2-5.
- The Marlborough Express
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