Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
' g$ [8 C% D4 r. D; A' Y7 | What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
$ @# M/ O$ Y! l4 s! o A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.( B; ]4 [0 p" f2 Z0 X/ i
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to- U8 e8 [/ {# v& n
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.) V F: b5 S3 l8 G# G$ _+ u
Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.
; V$ n d" u9 X Region-wide dog access rules that include:' _. p2 |& x8 e# A3 {: l9 ]) M
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating1 C, e }; q6 @. T1 P+ E* u2 E
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
; @: z1 B: b- B6 R7 Wuse.
$ A2 Q- Z! ^4 X5 F3 do Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current
z9 d3 M1 ?5 q# n1 nexemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,7 B8 w' W/ ?% u
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,
& _; y3 u; c( cand on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
; Y9 w; U9 _1 B6 s! z5 g N$ d Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to P: D; s3 d$ e) c
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
1 M9 J, v4 [* L6 ~: h' ~control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under2 N" B( L" `+ m+ H. ?: i1 T4 J
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
3 ? x* o& N# s. }. z2 `' lduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-
; R- J" y; Z k' |2 J/ wPark area of the Waitakere Ranges.
1 d" g5 O' ~0 f, H! ^ Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,5 n2 G$ @! R; R8 ~
requirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from
' ~" u( I& p- kpublic places and shared driveways.
8 w/ n& u: K0 L8 v2 ` Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of5 F! D9 P4 s6 z3 N! G9 \2 o
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing
1 F2 c$ E9 v8 Q( D) Q: ]+ edangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
q- g- z/ l) D7 ~, K' i* A NWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and5 y7 F/ o. b, ? K2 s9 H5 S
time and season dog access rules?
# c$ r1 c% [+ LA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
+ u% c. Z( L& gdecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
) F4 j1 ]& _8 xand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
5 t9 R. o, j+ X+ a4 ?6 X# ychanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the$ M: @/ \# f7 z5 D( K% Z+ A
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
/ k" j- {2 M/ v, O0 X2 r$ HOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to7 U. V6 B7 e4 A+ m' ]+ O d9 n
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to0 J/ }$ b. Y4 l) O0 U5 }4 p- g2 j
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
; L0 y5 N& U/ ^% T9 k4 v- Tand to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier, |' t1 U0 h, `0 `! t$ V3 w
Island).
4 m* d( u4 O8 i- O' _, h0 }0 w1 ?However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
" z% n* c* |; {* Olocal boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
6 k" T$ y! |, {; h9 Omost appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer
2 K- q3 L( M/ j: N- @! J5 ~, `times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under/ L @/ z, u# B) w
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
$ r1 h2 j5 `$ {manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
# G0 G* r- g2 T+ J( athe current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will1 r/ B0 t2 L/ `2 S) M% }# ` @, f
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
/ O t1 w7 P& f. g7 }Weekend to 1 March.1 f4 C9 I3 L8 X' |' s+ |
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in1 r) E0 N5 |1 K [* ]/ J
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be. u9 q/ M8 E% b7 I4 x8 ?8 d7 L+ `0 L
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |