Three dogs, a $300 fine, one Paeroa business owner and two retirees are at the centre of a three-year dispute which has become very public in recent days, prompting a petition to the district council.
Country Dog Garden Centre owner Donna Jamieson was issued a $300 fine by the Hauraki District Council for having her dog off-leash in the public/business part of her property on August 21.
The dog in question is Daisy, a white Maltese shih tzu, but her German shepherds Axyl and Xena have also faced complaints.
Donna, who lives on a large fenced section directly behind her garden centre, has received multiple notices from the council regarding her dogs since she moved to the property in November, 2021.
She said the council notices stemmed mainly from one neighbour’s complaints.
“I just want to be treated fairly, and I want my dogs to be able to be at their home,” she said. “We’ve been fined for our dog being loose on our own property.
“I’m a small business in a small town, I’ve done nothing but be kind and generous to this community and it’s a big kick in the guts.”
Meanwhile, retirees Martin and Margaret Raddatz, who live across the street, said they were concerned about noisy and potentially dangerous behaviour from the dogs. They have complained to the council about the barking, which can be heard from their home, but said they were not solely to blame for the fine.
“It’s multiple complaints, not just us,” Margaret said.
“And the council has a procedure. [But] we’ve witnessed so many near misses over there. She doesn’t have them under control… She might think it’s personal against her, but it’s not.”
Now, a petition from local resident Gail Ellis has called for council to withdraw the fine.
“We the undersigned customers think this is ridiculous,” it read. “We have never had any problem with the owner’s dogs… the dogs are well disciplined and friendly.”
The council animal control team said in a statement they had been aware of concerns about Donna’s dogs for some time.
“There are two issues we are dealing with here: numerous complaints received from multiple people about barking coming from the premises over a nearly three-year period, [and] three dogs being off leash on the public side of the business premises,” they said.
“In this case the dog owner was given the opportunity to comply, however after three years council has regretfully had to take enforcement action. To date the dog owner has not complied with written requests, and/or notices.”
Donna is currently subject to a Section 55 barking dog notice, which requires her to keep the dogs away from the public areas of her property and out of sight of any stimuli that may cause them to bark. The dogs must also wear bark collars.
Donna said the complaints began when her dog Axyl barked at an intruder at 2am one night and she approached the neighbours with concerns about someone in their driveway.
“It kind of escalated from there. If one of my dogs makes any noise, there’s a call to the council. I’ve been accused of the dogs barking all night and all day, which they don’t.
“I’m being singled out… I can’t even go into my car park without him watching or him yelling rude stuff across the street.
“I’m not an unreasonable person. I’ve tried to be neighbourly and have an amicable outcome that’s suitable for everybody. I’ve just been met with hostility and swearing and nastiness.”
However, the Raddatz’s said they were the ones feeling attacked.
“I’m not a dog hater [but] they’re not under control,” Margaret said.
“We have the right to complain. We have the right to live our retirement in peace and quiet.”
Margaret said the police had been called on them for “intimidating behaviour”, but she said they had a right to walk about their own property, and they would continue to watch the dogs from their deck out of concern that someone would eventually get hurt.
“The dogs do approach aggressively and bark at people, and as you saw in Thames just the other day, a lady’s little dog got killed by dogs, and I’m very concerned that that’s going to eventually happen… The little dog is lovely, the two Alsatians are lovely, but they could act as a pack if aggravated.”
Public opinion on the matter is divided. In the hour The Profile spent at the garden centre, five people came in specifically to sign the petition, which already had around 200 signatures on September 13.
“We just don’t think it’s fair. We’ve come in before when the dogs have been out and they’re lovely,” one customer said.
“They’re saying it’s a public place… It’s a private business.”
A social media post, which has since been removed, also elicited multiple comments in support of Donna. Several commenters were retailers who said they also had their dogs at work with them.
“We understand that some people are concerned about dogs. But on this occasion, the dogs are needed. For Donna, who lives here, it’s a bit of security,” Gail said.
“We thought if council realised that the customers are aware of the dogs and it isn’t a problem, [it would show] it’s being singled out.”
Along with the fine, Donna has now been issued with a letter from the council warning her of formal action, including the potential removal of her dogs, if she doesn’t comply with the barking notice requirements.
“If for a moment I thought there was some justification, sure, I’d do bark collars and sure, I’d do whatever, but they’re not barking extraordinarily often,” Donna said.
“I don’t feel as safe now. The German shepherds were a good deterrent… [but] they’ve never been aggressive to anyone at all,” Donna said.
