Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs/ H: T: K2 e u
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
7 A5 E* w+ o% p$ J$ `5 i A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.$ z! Q' t B3 Y2 Y
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to0 j o O& x# A u/ E D
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.1 N7 i: Z) L# t$ a P
Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.
( f9 n8 `; n0 z1 O7 y Region-wide dog access rules that include:" Z9 w+ n0 I" y) A& M. A" J: }( |
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating" O6 G+ M: k _- n+ ?4 }; u- h; o
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in2 i. J T" _! e+ q/ M+ {
use.; M3 Q3 F- O0 C6 h3 y3 w3 k
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current
$ f" L% R% w5 U5 V0 |8 D! {exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,9 i8 ]- F) {, T. |' Z; l
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,$ E! J- H+ R: s: k
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
; O: ?# p/ W- b$ L. V Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
8 A8 P" x; u- u. |' K0 _" T8 }implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under. l4 s( x1 k. j3 b3 e9 x9 r! ?
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under- l1 ~5 @6 n, X: b, Y
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
, t, s) w; M. k( a+ o6 X$ sduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-( ?- |1 N$ Z" `' e9 N7 U
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
" k2 H, {5 [! T9 d- V0 x( c Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
( {1 ~' P, q7 g5 W( M5 Irequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from6 p; ~, h* b* w8 L+ v2 F
public places and shared driveways.
0 x% L0 @/ ^! a2 K; l2 R Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
$ q+ p) T5 v }# kdogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing; q4 e; k# }2 T1 R Y$ e, X
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
- @6 m; {3 ]2 q4 F2 rWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and0 B8 z# m; r8 G, W0 q4 \
time and season dog access rules?' m7 Q9 [# T' w: Q. i2 J& k
A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access* } O/ B% Y2 ?1 ~
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
d7 Y M; E0 i9 o7 iand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting5 p( `9 j2 K! w
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the, p' f2 b& x$ W' w. V" x+ v; L
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.& I: l8 h5 R5 {1 A0 J
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
) }8 l' ~$ c) w4 z2 r4 N( m& Lbe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to, x. A0 z/ j" D& c U- c3 i
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,) X2 e% S% `2 r8 p# p0 u1 V
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
& i7 @7 F3 D- `Island).! s& k |/ \1 B5 z+ ^
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
" A) ^$ q# e$ Wlocal boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the# |% Y) E z6 T2 h7 r
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer3 f, T. g$ ]4 W. ]( a" v* R
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under7 ]; [$ p% H& Y
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to4 o( f4 a( P I) K
manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made8 w7 R) r$ a/ Y" x5 p5 L
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will# ]9 j* O3 I# E6 o; Y* l. a9 @
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour" K3 ~: O! t3 i
Weekend to 1 March.3 E% R* z$ U r! ^( s
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in8 s4 |4 [& p% u0 ?# D
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be" E9 {. R7 `. S7 J) ]
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |