Katikati resident Phil Christophersen and his heading dog ‘Emma’ have been visiting their town’s dog park regularly since it was fenced last year.

But they reckon it needs dog agility equipment to make it a destination for dogs and owners in the district.

The Katikati Dog Park at Donegal Reserve – accessible from Henry Rd in the south and Uretara and Highfields Drives in the north – was fenced off in July 2024.

Construction funds of $30,000, mainly from dog registration fees allocated through Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s previous Long-term Plan 2021-2031, were committed by council in November 2023.

No equipment

Today the park has a gate entry system, boundary fencing and a small fenced pen for dogs to exercise individually. But no funds were allocated for equipment inside the park.

As a result, Christophersen approached the council in March, asking for funds to place dog agility equipment in the park.

Christophersen said council’s parks and reserves officer Emma Woods suggested he connect with Katch Katikati to help raise funds.

Katch Katikati general manager Jacqui Knight said her organisation and Christophersen had since been fundraising for the dog agility equipment.

“We’ve already raised about $5000 from corporate sponsorship and the public and purchased the timbre for the equipment,” said Knight.

She said platinum sponsor Raw Pawz, a family-run raw pet food business, had given the project a massive boost early on.

Install costs

“Now the equipment is built, the Givealittle page – with a target of $3000 – is raising funds to install the equipment. Depending on what we raise and the budget, if funds are left over we will look to get more equipment or put some sort of shade shelter at the park.”

Christophersen said Katikati Menz Shed had made the dog agility gear – now it was a matter of raising the funds, “and getting council to approve where we want to place the equipment”.

He believed the equipment should be placed along the southern boundary, about 3m out from the fence, with each piece 5m apart.

“This is what the NZ Kennel Club (now Dogs NZ) recommend, and it would mean that we’d still have plenty of free space in the park for dog owners to use the facility how they like.

“This boundary is also the driest part of the park too.”

Katikati Menz Shed secretary Dave Watson said his organisation’s volunteers, across two months, had prefabricated everything ready to go.

“But because we’re all in our older years, we’re a bit beyond the installation of the equipment.”

Dogs NZ-approved

Watson said Menz shed volunteers had built two high-walk beams and ramps – one 1m off the ground, another 700mm off the ground for smaller dogs – two ‘sit/stay’ tables for dogs which would double as seats for owners, plus a park bench.

“We’ve also built a dog seesaw, which compiles with the NZ Kennel Club (now Dogs NZ) specific standards for dog agility equipment – as do the high-walk beams.”

Christophersen was pleased council had fenced the dog park but said now is the time to get equipment installed.

“It would be really good to see the equipment placed down here soon. Emma would enjoy the dog agility course. I think a lot of other dogs which come here would be keen on it too. The gear would also bring more visiting dog owners and dogs to the park.”

Donate!

To donate towards installation of agility equipment, visit: givealittle.co.nz/cause/dog-park-agility-equipment-katikati