Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs; z9 D2 r. Q: F4 u7 P2 e8 q
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?! m9 U- s/ v: P- }3 ]$ k4 T
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
" d7 b8 {( h: ]4 \* K. V5 A A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
r0 k y2 I4 P# f4 L6 f+ B0 ppublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
: e/ D$ J* X5 h Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.
, u2 g5 C; F j# I" Z& I2 B9 s Region-wide dog access rules that include:
" R8 X: N8 N) g/ S4 x9 Z& h9 }o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
) F, x+ _) a# d. n" C# r" Careas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
2 R; Y; i6 R- w$ W; {use.
9 O6 e0 f* {* io Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current; o2 W+ ~/ u- l. L/ [% a, K; u
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,6 N+ x0 a1 q5 t) h1 p6 e, l# G
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,4 @. R( k( v6 R3 @4 O3 B8 W2 q) x1 c
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district., ]% C5 t: H) O# B4 \* @
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
! P5 _* @$ y" J0 M3 N; Himplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under K/ D1 T" X/ b3 I- s
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under3 {/ K1 R! Y3 B' V; ?
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
6 l, A& y' d+ J2 Q# R8 I" q* rduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-
; A: l0 b. `9 r" q: @# \Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
5 l8 C7 c% \+ M Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces, g/ {3 r" ^$ O, w& V$ U
requirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from) m( N& g: K$ i+ O! a8 w8 d
public places and shared driveways.
. V& v Y1 _5 I" u9 j' x Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
8 W+ x- H+ C. m7 R `' Q& _! }+ ndogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing- R2 @) _& x* t( {9 w
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
" F% T0 X$ D0 i' r T) }5 dWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
! g5 }1 Y: M6 u" ]1 ytime and season dog access rules?
4 R$ T1 |7 [. c! \( Z, p0 h& gA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access1 g8 R. ]; Q2 b+ l
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation& v' D6 ~- U2 F4 w$ E0 E- L3 y; L
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting' D V& O& B: S A" A( _! C
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the
( B- f! S9 V5 c2 V( mnew decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
3 i! U) }6 M3 \5 T7 _One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to. j! `0 Z; h7 ?4 }. }
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to
) i: Q1 X5 b+ ~' R" n$ B* @9 qadopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
3 f$ U4 l+ v' Y! R* F; I( ]and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
2 H o8 B" h6 |7 H* C# L" K8 G. oIsland).
2 _) X: i4 C% Y9 k+ AHowever, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and/ o' S* o% p1 l U9 m# r4 A6 z& j
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
# u+ D' Q4 x* e0 g0 S+ pmost appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer" L* L( h1 Z+ u
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
' C0 k% N: y+ @- Y/ t# l, E( Y6 D2 zcontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to1 s6 ]3 x) f) K) S, ~
manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
( H, |+ v! f4 h% ]- |the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will% h# D4 j: O5 Z$ a, R3 @( s) p8 O. z
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
2 k! j! N- A% I/ _/ }+ ?& Y+ YWeekend to 1 March.* p/ Q! z4 H- T4 R/ p8 v
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
- w5 v7 J [' G( w" }2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be* _6 U0 U+ I. j4 u# b( U+ B
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |