Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs: r7 _4 f2 d% I, c
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
+ Y) A5 k D8 R& E8 Q A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.4 Q: O6 d2 X& Z( r g* R% Y$ M
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to+ R* h8 x" E) V% V3 {
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.$ @- j& O6 f: F7 U- S8 J
Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.4 a% p7 m5 \: [# ]; f$ L- H* f, ?9 ?
Region-wide dog access rules that include:, O3 H2 ?% m( G' {& P/ W( G U# h
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
7 n0 l4 Y+ B$ a* v7 dareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
: D& R' J: P* c( iuse.
0 K! M n* v& z5 m+ Eo Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current! s, Z* N, \& _
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
_) Z2 ?1 e. G3 t9 wMadills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,
" p% s- a! l" M: [6 a4 \$ p0 y& R- {and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.# Q( v3 ?. ~0 M; y
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
: m8 _9 X; N9 V# mimplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under9 m) g. _3 {0 n* a3 k- z
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under+ o0 K. X$ M- c( s( y/ H
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm& }1 w: E9 R& t+ @
during daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-
1 X8 A7 c- ^) ?# j2 LPark area of the Waitakere Ranges.
7 _3 ^0 H: K# K( @9 D6 M Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
/ o+ d* I6 n5 s8 d6 s( n* k* urequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from1 z/ j: R j7 H( @6 J4 i& t9 j
public places and shared driveways.' l3 W8 O2 [# i5 ]; t5 f$ {( r
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
5 ^' _' L9 D$ W, cdogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing
. f5 ?. H5 k. [" Xdangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
9 X6 c3 {0 C' T1 O# j( a# f7 aWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and0 r, j6 W3 U. L/ j8 K0 n9 V/ d
time and season dog access rules?
+ w1 g7 ~; ?& KA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
5 ]- Q- `9 ~# j0 D& t+ Xdecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation0 d# o2 F0 w3 u, I- C9 ]4 v! O
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting$ }+ V* f% H% W0 M
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the5 L5 G8 z1 N9 A/ }( e
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
0 [3 r; X& X2 r' v7 B! }7 DOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
" z7 @8 L8 h# z* G. m g6 jbe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to0 q; w# n; D' X0 b5 l+ I
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
* `4 _! q7 p- `9 B3 fand to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
, D$ H9 \+ h5 j1 X; L& ^Island)., @) [$ [; B3 g0 z) f
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
0 }# c# x% L+ v8 alocal boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
5 f+ E" F6 z/ d' Z2 f1 Y5 tmost appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer0 G$ u1 D8 I, O) m
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
/ O/ c! ?1 G5 W& D6 Ccontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
6 u- p5 T* Y6 V0 A/ Zmanage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
" A$ J1 G5 x$ r: Vthe current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will5 O/ W, l+ {: _
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
, @8 {8 N& r9 r, ]1 ?8 [! f1 cWeekend to 1 March.
" c4 X- j; [3 X. S( dConsideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in, U3 N: T* {& `7 j9 X
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be# x& [, W5 ]! g1 R. q
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |