Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
( s' W4 J# k6 v1 [& i' b0 @ What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
) o7 n+ Z* U0 G* ~4 |- s: B5 e A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.8 n/ f" `/ x) P3 x1 ^
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to' y8 Q7 n7 {5 l y. {; e8 E7 m. H
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.
* }5 `6 N- d7 s# @ Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.
% B6 q+ b w5 z5 [1 t' C Region-wide dog access rules that include:0 ~* o& |0 X/ c" j) i# `% D" Y6 f
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating% I& J% w+ N5 j, K
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in& l1 e8 A2 c3 E0 f. R
use.5 j+ f/ O& A) |1 _
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current+ s) o ~. v+ h* R
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
% G2 I L q4 W2 jMadills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,& E( n- v# l( z2 k; A9 }
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.8 |; d: e2 @/ B, Z4 T$ k* c
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
* b$ N- R( ]0 M9 [$ J% U. }5 Kimplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under) S3 q9 G- I' Y( c5 ]/ O
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under
/ t4 X7 F- ~; Y- F1 n& Rcontrol on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
9 }) N- H6 c" I$ H* \2 `6 F5 Vduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-' H' \& Y( B/ D r
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
, z( |1 r9 A% A( g7 j Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
5 S& ^) B2 k6 frequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from$ \& D* p# M0 u) X3 r
public places and shared driveways.6 A) p* j) P6 K/ ]
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of% G. h! a5 ~* p8 D: [# t
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing
" U; e6 t0 L6 jdangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
: d# E$ e9 g/ PWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and) r0 {0 r/ N$ h' K" h
time and season dog access rules?
4 v# w. N# T5 K8 y' c& ^A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access. F' Y% I- D* k5 g) ~
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation- c( U( I9 L! L% Q
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
' `+ @6 m8 s+ i# S4 C- I9 Qchanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the
, m2 H( H. W: R( s( U8 @new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
. F7 ^, L9 k7 SOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to& E/ `$ {6 F" w$ q2 M
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to. o8 D$ i& w' Q
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,: `2 t. }- j* m; H4 b# o
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier/ J, I9 r' z d- I
Island).8 W' y9 m0 a9 C& V+ ?( S" M& n2 F
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and8 X0 O2 K2 ?. q' V
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the5 S, Z# i% G7 j1 Z3 k/ p
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer* O/ m3 t" A' l6 |: _7 y2 Z
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
1 F4 j1 p& V4 Rcontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
( }3 |2 K S7 C* ~manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
- F: X: s2 h( B3 ^+ t8 G' v; R( Mthe current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will
2 {( @4 @) p; c1 m. A! W2 jcontinue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
0 f# G5 ]9 z( T+ Z/ W2 c% yWeekend to 1 March.
* o3 t) U6 z6 j: UConsideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
" c$ @3 x* d1 Z3 c) b$ X2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
0 h) w, }6 |# a/ k7 D# Y6 Sconducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |