Wander Dogs back to seas the day with a beach-themed celebration

The dog days are not over – they're coming back to the beach this summer as part of Western Bay’s Wander Dog series.

Back by paw-pular demand, the much-loved annual series will feature three walks around the District and a Doggy Day Out party, where pets are encouraged to don their best beachwear.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Team Leader – Animal Services, Peter Hrstich, says it’s exciting to be gearing up for the seventh year of Wander Dogs.

"The four-legged residents of Western Bay of Plenty deserve to be celebrated this summer, and so do their owners. Our get-togethers are not only fun, but they’re educational, and people walk away with a smile and tidbits of new information on how to get the best from their kūri.

“This year, we hosted two winter walks for the first time in Katikati and Te Puke, so it was a no brainer to bring back the summer series and build on the positive events we hosted in the colder months.”

The walks give dogs and their owners a chance to socialise with other animals in a safe environment, and for owners to pick up some great tips in the information session held beforehand.

“The brief power-up talks before the walk begins gives owners a chance to ask any burning questions of our teams who have a wealth of knowledge about dogs and their behaviour. In the past, we’ve covered topics like dog park etiquette and being aware of other kūri around you. If you’ve got a question, here’s your chance to ask.”

The first walk will be on Saturday 9 December at Puketoki Reserve in Whakamarama. Dogs, and their humans, are encouraged to meet at 9:30am for a quick Q&A session with our resident experts, before setting off at 10am.

After a Christmas break, the series will return on Saturday 3 February at Te Puna Quarry Park, and on Saturday 2 March at Anzac Bay in Waihi Beach. Q&A sessions will begin at 9:30am for these sessions, with the walk to follow at 10am as well.

“We’ll also be letting our hair down and letting our tails wag on Saturday 16 March at Ōmokoroa Sportsground for our favourite event of the year: Doggy Day Out,” adds Peter.

The costume party kicks off at 10am and will run through to 2pm. Dogs and their humans, and humans without dogs too, are invited to join us for the celebration. There will be something for everyone to enjoy - with dog education, stalls, music, and competitions all on the agenda.

For more information on this summer series, head to our Wander Dogs Summer Series page.