A total of 148 public submissions — a tiny proportion of the district’s 24,300 residents — came in.
The propoal included allowing dogs on a lead in Thames and Harbour Sts and at the Oamaru North shopping centre. The majority of submitters, or 73%, favoured allowing dogs on a lead in the CBD.
An off-lead exercise area along Harbour Tce in Kakanui is also proposed.
Thirteen submitters spoke to the hearing panel on Monday.
Penguin Rescue Society co-leader Robbie Verhoef said "highly distressed" hoiho (yellow eyed penguin) in the proposed off-lead area from the Kakanui River Estuary to Campbells Bay was their chief concern. His past experience of rescuing penguins in that area was they would stand little chance from dogs.
"They are very compromised already, often severely underweight, and often injured. They do not have the energy to run from dogs."
Mr Verhoef said he favoured the proposed off lead area between Beach Rd and Thousand Acre Rd as it was not a penguin area.
Peter Plunket presented research on comparable dog by-laws.
He said the main issue was that North Oamaru dog owners were "poorly served" and excluded from Centennial Park.
While the council was to be commended for Fenwick Dog Park, Mr Plunket opposed a possible dog park at Awamoa Park.
Of the submissions, nearly all (95.8%) favoured making it an offence for dogs to be "at large" on rural properties. Fiona Anderson, in a written submission, highlighted the potential infection issues impacting livestock.
Meanwhile, a desexing programme funded by $1 from every dog registration fee is proposed to assist dog owners "facing financial hardship".
But Cr Jim Thomson was not in favour.
He suggested some dog owners "shouldn’t have them" if cost was the issue.
"What I see here (is) rural dog owners . . . are going to subsidise town dogs, who contribute nothing other than large piles of poo on the sports field," he said.
The proposed Harbour St dog-on-lead area was largely panned by submitters due to the wildlife risk.
Helen Pederson said the area should be dog free due to the penguin nesting area, high visitor foot traffic and road traffic.
Dog poo, intimidation by dogs and lack of control by owners across the proposed dog-lead areas vexed some submitters.
Karen Blunden questioned who would police the areas, the consequences of owners not complying and "not to mention the added poop patrol".
Cr Rebecca Ryan asked animal management regulatory manager Andrew Bardsley if there were any current statistics regarding dog poo offending.
Mr Bardsley said seven infringements of $300 were issued in the past four years, but it required council officers to be "Johnny on the spot".
The submissions hearing has now adjourned, with a report to go to the full council meeting on October 22.
