Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
$ ~7 j: H. `) v+ P0 L What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?! z) w" }% t3 \$ v0 e4 h" J5 x
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.' ?! F/ `. u! j I$ m' x" l+ c
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
: M' P7 z j# o) e0 Z8 Apublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
) A$ Y( ? Z& r Z1 v Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.0 {7 ~- J' G4 \% Y
Region-wide dog access rules that include:( f. I( P b9 ]" q2 ]; `/ Q
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating' z6 ` U3 `0 P
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in1 A6 K0 P, c: P, o. u$ y& u1 e
use.2 N1 P/ h Z+ I5 N/ @
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current* Y6 H' I2 K9 l& M% z* ]* C
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,- q9 T e. ^1 A0 D
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,% H/ u! ] G1 g
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.! m8 p( ?+ I: ?* o6 L
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
. }' o3 U9 |3 `( \* Q2 mimplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under; X2 ~; H! f; ?5 b+ w
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under
! M1 \: [. u: B) i) Y! |) `( n' tcontrol on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
9 ?8 L7 C& I3 d7 k2 J6 rduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-3 g/ |. p4 D: |/ w" k, m
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
3 `! l6 ?( I0 s. W- l4 N Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
$ p, }- K" }! }% p% T! \requirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from+ n3 u: {' _# N# A" G: g; B" x. _
public places and shared driveways.
1 h9 h* l% Q7 w( O+ x Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
+ d" \0 b3 E0 odogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing* |4 |0 r1 ?( Z( ?8 A! _/ m
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.6 D: L- L- w7 y& r1 l" K
What about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
5 y3 X L% c- @$ h% Etime and season dog access rules?
" f0 a! q# a4 S7 S: YA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access- X; h& U! K f" Z
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation0 C3 Y7 k0 Y1 I4 Y( ?
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
/ H0 y5 C; u ~4 m. {/ S' schanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the2 \& o1 f" e* W; C6 R u6 F% J
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.; I% q3 i e+ Z+ u# Z1 U
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
8 ?; E' R: Q, O& N! a0 Q& [; ^be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to
& w5 c. b# J9 Q* jadopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,$ x( [2 \/ K- ?: k, a
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
: M# v4 d! h- E4 ^" ?, z$ aIsland).
0 S b ^; s4 c! G4 M8 ]However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and0 p) ?2 Z9 y4 D! ]) h
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the. z3 u v0 i; h! G2 b
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer
2 Z; @, W2 V+ c1 Ptimes and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
; [0 {5 o3 K+ k7 z" Dcontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
0 \5 t" m/ |) K) m" m* L7 umanage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
0 S5 _1 y# ], s _9 K3 h/ ~& Q! Ethe current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will& q; B7 ~& y/ O0 f; g% I: [& q
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour5 h$ B6 C9 p( D [7 e8 g
Weekend to 1 March.$ ~9 i3 Y2 o; Y" W
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in' p% L( D' L; _ i' Z+ j
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
3 t/ E! g; F7 V8 n' \; wconducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |