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Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
! f" t0 @" c0 ? What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
# q3 h( d# e6 i: h A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.2 r+ k' G0 s9 d3 X* f, Q, `5 z
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
! w5 f* H9 x. z' I( F1 Apublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
' C) D; L7 q$ N/ `6 Q Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches./ q. V( C+ I" l# x! C) Y
Region-wide dog access rules that include:
! _) N( |0 `" {: z l. to Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating6 a u- {, K" j
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
: b6 ^" ^) R: Luse.
5 ^; g, B; i1 i+ ?o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current) q1 s0 M+ M/ V3 z% C" {$ r& X
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
- x% ~$ y' f' L, wMadills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,% o h1 q6 F; U: K# C* ~) Q
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.8 \2 A- T" D1 t/ M8 i8 s2 S& Z
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to; d d/ Y [* J, ^8 d$ I
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
# d+ \ t' |! K' Qcontrol off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under+ @5 w% H5 p w, Y8 g
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm8 g* ~, V7 r0 J
during daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-* g _' o; V' d' g
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.( q8 y8 p5 S5 W0 W$ K
Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
H5 \' Q( T! rrequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from1 X- s7 K" s) }4 L
public places and shared driveways.1 L+ x7 `* g: G
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of% U: l$ O% D4 b1 J. P
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing) \9 Q I3 U3 d
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
+ h, A' G' j6 Q& \$ o2 E. c/ DWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
, @" n' A7 n( c5 Jtime and season dog access rules?. H' k9 k5 `' C+ L r1 l( I2 \/ d
A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
4 m7 s! ~! H3 wdecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
X& p1 \# g9 Dand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
9 j8 a; O7 C& Kchanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the* d+ d( k' ^6 e9 H
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance., w7 c9 A. I' K* {9 ^$ m
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
. \) \! x! P* e7 j5 U7 @be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to( `" c$ M9 x5 x# |7 M) [+ n
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,+ ?& ^& r" v; r9 i8 p
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
[! Y! H- M& H0 }7 ?4 m" t" [3 CIsland).
3 n$ F' s: e( f8 ^: z& IHowever, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
% S* k* C/ s) @ J4 R: r) H7 Y! [local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
. X: R, ~/ l- Y6 Z& F/ ~most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer- I9 p1 y& C! U" _& a z5 u
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
: ]1 W. G! H, Y9 S/ g( ` scontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
" b; b3 S' F! n; l3 cmanage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made7 d4 O: H3 }) G# C: M3 Y
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will
9 n7 A' \0 L7 i3 @! r! ?& p" y- F$ mcontinue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
2 X% N3 t5 c5 q: S* d* y# LWeekend to 1 March.# D' W6 I& `+ v: C
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in: w; u" |2 U9 q# Y
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be6 c& z4 h! Y6 b* N# b1 F. j- U
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |