ISLAND BAY NOTE-LEAVER ESCALATES TO LAMINATION, NEIGHBOURS DIVIDED ON WHETHER THAT'S WORSE THAN THE POO
Eleven notes in a fortnight. The dog remains at large.
An anonymous Island Bay resident has been leaving passive-aggressive notes about dog poo along The Esplanade for the past fortnight, and as of Tuesday the notes are laminated.
The notes are typed in Comic Sans and addressed to "THE OWNER OF THE LARGE BROWN DOG". They have appeared on lampposts, fences, and one bewildered Vauxhall Corsa. Early notes ran to a polite paragraph. The most recent one is two pages and references the Dog Control Act 1996 by section number.
Local Saoirse Donnelly, 34, said the escalation had been something to watch. "First one was almost sweet. 'Please clean up after your dog.' By note four it was 'I have photographs.' Note seven mentioned a lawyer. Note nine had a diagram."
A neighbour, Pete Vaiusu, said he reckoned he knew who was writing them but wouldn't say. "Put it this way. There's a bloke on this street who owns a laminator and a strong opinion about bin night. Work it out."
Wellington City Council, asked whether laminated notes on lampposts counted as unauthorised signage, said the matter was "being looked into" and that residents should report dog fouling via the app, not via stationery.
STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL
Wellington City Council is aware of community concerns regarding signage and animal-related matters in the Island Bay area. Council officers will be undertaking an assessment in due course, and appropriate action will be considered where it is deemed necessary.
Residents are reminded that the affixing of unauthorised material to Council infrastructure, including lampposts and street furniture, is not permitted under the relevant bylaws. Residents are further reminded that dog owners are required to remove animal waste from public spaces in accordance with the Dog Control Act 1996.
Council acknowledges that frustrations have been expressed on both sides of this matter, and encourages affected parties to engage through established channels rather than through laminated correspondence. A timeline for resolution has not been established at this stage.
Further updates will be provided as and when they become available.
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Reader Letters
kenny_islandbay
The notes are rooted.
Growly_Grets
I get it, though! Dog owners need to keep their pets' mess off public spaces. It's frustrating enough dealing with potholes on the roads, let alone dodging poo on the footpaths. I'm surprised more people aren't fed up with this. Council should consider this level of frustration a priority rather than leaving it to passive-aggressive notes.
JDWelly
And who's paying for the lamination sheets, aye? Betcha it comes out of the public purse one way or another. Ridiculous use of resources if you ask me.
Trev_Hornby
Back in my day, we didn’t need lamination. A good handwritten letter was enough. And we watched over our dogs ourselves! The problem with today’s generation is everything needs to be packaged and preserved. Just have a bloody chat over the hedge.
Sandra McKenzie
Island Bay was more neighbourly without all this preserved-paper warfare. Just a good old tap on the door back then.
wayne1987
Mate, lamination is just upping the piss-take. At least it’s not another pile of shit on the kerb. Make your point without citin’ legislation in Comic Sans.
couchgremlin
Here's an idea, how about the dog owner gets laminated and the note-leaver scoops the poop? Swap roles for a week and see who snaps first.
AmandaReads
Maybe the note-leaver should focus on the real problem - unpicked dog poo, not the stationery choices. Bit of a distraction from the actual issue, if you ask me.
ropeable_dave
@JDWelly Mate, the lamination cost is on the note-writer. No one’s taking taxpayer money for this.