Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
* R* H8 `) b+ P: b/ F What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?* q& Y! S) }3 _, ]2 x! f
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
4 f8 w4 M5 U' V. B/ f A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to' }$ C8 D8 Q" @* w- B. Q. m
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.
" A+ W8 `$ a& X! |$ t Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.# d7 ^' k4 k: ^) j' k
Region-wide dog access rules that include:9 Q4 i/ d6 T8 N' z( [
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating/ A# c" @/ O3 Q; c
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in" @; D. }& i, F6 P2 j
use.$ { B7 e3 B* `* Q2 Z$ }% T
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current5 F, [& g; T0 y' g
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,' j$ W# r. i( e
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,
% B* `( b' t+ Z) Aand on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
, ~% X+ j/ u: x. P# X0 Z1 v Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
( L/ Y( X1 m+ W. K* timplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under. w: W' y9 G# J+ \" a G, W
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under7 G; b% L& K" A8 Z0 F% o' f
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm! _" s- r) `- z# s2 B$ l' a
during daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-, N: e+ B3 Q2 w) A
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
+ q& Z' e- d8 v" E3 v/ b% C Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
f7 l8 |) S* i8 hrequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from+ `8 H! B4 f% b% B+ E: n$ V
public places and shared driveways.
. o4 T% M7 b8 I* S- T$ j Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
6 N% M) L/ Z) d f# a) K( u, Ydogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing- Q# f! v3 j' C. x/ G9 C
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
% J0 t2 l7 F' @0 A, aWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
$ |0 a& R% ~! ^* |' ~" v! Ltime and season dog access rules?
6 A5 J* A0 r" eA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access0 n& N6 {$ N2 z) _
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
" x& J8 o7 p* P7 F( [$ Jand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting Z( A5 r3 L3 R0 f/ r
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the# [! i: u* ^6 B! |$ a0 i0 D
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.% V. ^* p- c P; H
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
K( m) N9 d1 ^ E( tbe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to- `5 B2 { p2 h- s) C) L
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
& T2 E8 o' J5 ^) M9 J N1 ~and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
; e. R9 K: p5 k* B" Z( e" p" PIsland). O t' }3 a7 M- m' G$ ?3 C
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and- m4 E( g3 j4 i6 s* Q/ f9 g
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the Y, c* @( j$ c% [
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer3 O( R/ P3 p0 }5 ~' M% j
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under7 P! E7 ]5 k" a/ k% S: b ~& S& a
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
7 x2 v" g' ^ b8 Z$ Umanage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
% ]: _2 \; U- f( [1 _- jthe current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will- w6 j {, t* A# m2 l; k9 k
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
0 @( u% ~5 ^5 S! m$ FWeekend to 1 March.3 Z" d7 ^# `2 [, b' X1 V
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in3 f: [* Z' L& i* T) V/ j: e
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
. O# [$ c- Q6 H2 }0 Tconducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |