Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
- d* T. I! g5 o; z. s What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?9 h0 Z" J' i1 X+ d: q# c' O
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.2 Q' k3 Z2 S( Q/ V# ~. M$ w
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to/ O# y4 a: g @
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.
( F& Z9 s: m( f' ?/ h Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.: [# `, u5 S( k
Region-wide dog access rules that include:
9 f4 r6 n: n. k; o; G: ]& eo Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating6 v: }& | [% p. i8 m4 Q$ a
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in P: _' ^$ ^& U; m7 c1 x
use.
1 \, E% ?% v6 ^* V4 I1 _! Xo Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current7 X$ s5 W$ A, h _# t
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,' P% P. x; A5 Y
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,/ o& \! p# ~; b1 ^
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district./ V `, v0 b/ h/ i
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to' b( q& |% I- i/ f& d3 {
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under5 R3 y8 e. K3 L
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under
r2 u X ^6 H4 Vcontrol on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
! m, I/ Z9 }+ ^2 j: z. N1 a8 yduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-: z$ [+ y: C6 N7 V
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.: o2 a; V% v& s- a9 k0 E5 t* h7 }$ V. g
Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,+ R' |: g! B' a; W
requirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from4 W4 O- e: P3 ~/ F9 `
public places and shared driveways.0 ?0 V, R% d% J# O
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
" m4 `7 T! L7 U% Y; Ndogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing
& C/ ]% u; w% Y8 Fdangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
* w1 m; m- ]5 A' w2 E2 v* q5 VWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and+ C( {6 d8 i$ t( b0 u6 h7 k; m
time and season dog access rules?* j4 O; V" r( P$ E
A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
4 V, r$ _# r4 i" A0 Z" H4 idecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
7 r& X% ~! ]$ ~' `6 z9 ?: Jand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
5 _. `7 K6 I/ L9 S7 y2 `9 qchanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the$ M1 Q3 h: w2 f7 h H% x: {9 F
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
5 i4 t. V" J4 r( A/ V7 sOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
; i1 h; N0 E$ [/ ~( G6 F4 T, X1 w( e7 Qbe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to+ O( m9 N6 m( i- ?
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,4 p, l6 H" O* H' U- @7 K3 f3 R' t
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier: @& |2 t& o* v1 H
Island).
2 ?+ y- B) W* C1 R* \: [+ `" rHowever, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
' C6 N+ ?. m+ ^5 ?1 }+ i4 |0 tlocal boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the9 `, ` d" E; W) U5 k5 i
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer7 j9 \) _ b$ v* k% L# P2 a
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
) p7 l8 i; c9 ^( Q$ d% dcontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
6 X7 B, X( a1 g7 w9 A% O6 Tmanage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made/ _& D' ~2 d2 y5 Y2 l5 V
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will! {. @" C/ A, B( ~, I: _' n
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour4 u# k% x0 u, f7 ?
Weekend to 1 March.( G7 V1 @) Z: i$ X
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in% v: Z- L$ E) h$ k8 _* @
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be6 h+ p9 H7 y3 W. o
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |