Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
; t: r& X! V4 u5 n3 s What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?7 o0 d1 A& o4 |1 F$ g9 Z, W- @* c
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life." v! x- i& K, Z5 d* q: ^
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
& z: ^, u0 m2 l* rpublic places, registration, and dog safe communities./ A3 d' s1 C( I; R( S' u( o
Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.1 j4 G; _ p! K/ L3 C8 r( z# B
Region-wide dog access rules that include:$ F% P0 f* I! O* ^, Y2 n
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
, k$ e, L6 h8 W! o& T. i! Pareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
5 w2 { L2 @2 [use.' r4 X$ X. F- n9 a+ x+ @3 E9 u
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current' t' x: \- d! u; _2 x7 Y/ [
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
3 T. d8 y" l& ^/ I7 h$ x# fMadills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,; W* i5 C" Y5 B) Q" i+ A) z% @
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.* k& q& Y+ g5 X% M+ _
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
/ v4 e6 ?0 f$ _8 mimplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
/ ?* b% e& W: lcontrol off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under
( m1 o" F( W% G# V* {: X$ Qcontrol on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
t' x7 c s: F7 [4 Wduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-: A: F# }: j6 _2 Y
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.* z! P8 ?% R( |6 w7 U6 y) U
Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
# T" D" `1 _9 o& c! Frequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from
4 o) U% H' N& W! e6 @public places and shared driveways.0 o H- |" e/ r% f$ ^' l
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of8 Q) I& P$ K# B5 Q) f/ j: n0 t
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing
u0 k1 z; n( |dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
2 w: _, J& p7 p. T7 vWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
. \# t5 K& J* J% o% e% Ktime and season dog access rules?/ b; K/ L8 C0 u _8 |# s- f- E4 {
A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
& @8 o& k0 Y, |; i8 Ndecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
4 Q B/ |' Z U9 X U) O8 eand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting* b' j! I! y" M, m$ C3 B) | p
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the
# g' C2 n4 E$ o3 bnew decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
5 p- T4 e+ T# nOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to0 f! @, S' m3 `6 `3 |" s
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to; ?" w" V |+ \$ w9 D6 p# M) l
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
0 n6 x. Z ?6 f/ r) xand to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier/ D6 C+ N5 b% x5 K+ x4 r4 Y
Island).- o1 j+ ?. H+ T/ R, E' H. j/ V
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
. f2 @0 Q! a& e" S8 x" ?' E) Klocal boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
* M- k) b6 L. b# K: X2 Kmost appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer0 M% r1 o& F: r# {9 [
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under3 y' u! c7 q- `% |
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to/ T! L: q) r7 G
manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made& c; m A) g) u
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will
) _, V! `" B' Z# T5 P W3 L7 F5 a* {continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
3 D; O: V; H0 k, b+ f+ V: RWeekend to 1 March.
3 f# }5 f8 t z5 Y4 A: {Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
8 S/ h. O5 M3 D- Y2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be* j, s; I4 }. W& z4 }6 A
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |