Taking the lead in dog education

A new face at Far North District Council is taking a pawsitive approach, with plans to visit every school in the district to teach young people how to stay safe around dogs.

Lisa Ross joined the council as its new Education and Safety Liaison Officer last month, bringing a wealth of experience in media, education and dog ownership to the newly established role.

After more than 30 years working in television, radio, print and digital media, including teaching broadcasting students, Lisa knows how to get important messages across.

She has owned dogs all her life, has bred Australian Cattle Dogs and her last dog was a Siberian Husky. This has provided her firsthand experience of the joys and challenges of responsible dog ownership. She now lives in a kiwi area, so cannot have a dog of her own.

Rather than focusing solely on enforcement, Lisa’s role will support a proactive, education-led approach to dog safety across the Far North. She has already contacted more than half of the district’s schools and secured bookings for dog safety sessions at 16 of them, to date.

Her goal is to visit every school in the Far North by June next year, delivering sessions on how to approach and behave around dogs, recognise their body language, respect a dog’s boundaries, and understand the responsibilities that come with owning a dog.

The sessions will be tailored to different age groups and won’t be a one-off. Lisa plans to make regular return visits to reinforce key messages and provide refresher training.

“Not everyone has been taught how to behave around dogs, and most owners are responsible, animal-loving people,” says Lisa. “Often, it’s simply a case of not knowing what to do or how to act. Education can make a real difference in keeping both people and dogs safe.”

And it’s not just schoolchildren who will benefit from Lisa’s expertise. She plans to get out and about at community events, meeting residents, listening to concerns and working alongside local organisations to identify issues and develop practical solutions.

Lisa believes creating a safer environment for people and dogs needs a community-wide effort, built on education, understanding and open conversations.

“Dog safety is important for everyone, regardless of age. It’s like learning to swim – you need to learn the skills before you find yourself in trouble,” she says.

“I’m looking forward to getting involved with our communities, finding ways to reach as many people as possible, and getting the ball rolling in the right direction together. It’s about meeting people, being honest, and not being afraid to discuss hard issues.”

Lisa will be at the opening of the new Kaikohe Library and Civic Hub on Monday 9 November, where she will be meeting locals and sharing dog safety tips. Pop along, paws to say hello, and find out more about her work.