Bluff dog owners can now enjoy exercising their pet off-lead at Ocean Beach Reserve.

As a result of changes to the Invercargill City Council Dog Control Bylaw, Ocean Beach reserve has been designated as an area where dogs can be off-lead, but still must be under their owner’s voice control.

Council Compliance Team Leader Elle Dickson said dogs must be on-lead in all other areas of Bluff.

“While reviewing the Bylaw, staff recognised that there was nowhere in Bluff that dogs were able to be off-lead. After working with the Bluff Community Board and consulting with the community, it was decided that Ocean Beach Reserve would be a good location where residents and visitors to the town could take their dogs to run around and play off-lead.”

Other areas in the wider Invercargill area where dogs can be exercised off-lead include Sandy Point, Donovan Park, Turnbull Thompson Park, Elizabeth Park, and the Elles Road Dog Park.
However, dogs are not allowed on sports fields or within 10 metres of playgrounds.

Council is running a competition on the Bluff Community Board Facebook page from today.

To enter, take a photo or video of your dog on-lead in Bluff, or off-lead at Ocean Beach Reserve, and post it in the comments section of the relevant post.

All photos go in the draw to win a prize pack for your dog.

The competition closes on Tuesday, April 30.

For more information about dog ownership in Invercargill and Bluff, visit www.icc.govt.nz/animal-control/dogs