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Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
! _) k+ O% Y2 i0 C What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?3 h# F8 a- L6 x& n; }
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
% l+ }# O& ]4 C A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
: W3 c! H0 h! l! g& Npublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.: F8 G% Z2 [" F* e" f% h- p! L& I! u
Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.
7 B- q2 [0 [7 L) V5 F Region-wide dog access rules that include:8 w' M. y; |. w4 E- ]# N
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating1 E4 `1 a! u3 Q; `; z: L
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
9 L5 Y# h+ `1 k0 Q2 k+ [# nuse.
6 z$ x+ V7 p. H7 N4 E0 Co Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current
1 }; K' T& J& w0 }% Y: Jexemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,- |, k2 R( b \7 a; @1 M
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,) e2 J! n; y1 x& ~2 U
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district." E! U9 G0 e9 C+ r( P
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to3 i3 o- o( O" d. @( R7 x
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
8 @2 r/ u1 i- q6 j. rcontrol off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under" \. m G1 a' c; l! M) u c% V
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
F P1 U9 ^+ b9 Y1 ]" ?) zduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-4 m# I0 Y+ Z+ w) F( |
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.# F0 U! {! H% U/ r9 [) |
Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
. n* ^$ V. H2 @: z; @+ i$ Qrequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from
! b/ V# w5 m' P; j. V1 N+ W+ ]5 ypublic places and shared driveways.
6 J$ e; D6 q2 C0 W# i8 [ Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of L3 O: ?9 U6 ~' U" a6 I8 @6 ]
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing0 y% t( e+ f' {% ?# e0 }
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.; Y' ^/ b* e* T
What about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
4 ?7 v# J. _: Q; j3 h- _3 t3 qtime and season dog access rules?( {7 m7 e4 g" X/ |1 Q
A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access- l" @+ T# g% f: }' q1 S. N5 \
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
) G% F% ~0 n, m3 uand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting. K- P+ K3 T) S, I) r0 d# F
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the
7 j* X7 J% A8 {+ B+ F' B- Gnew decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
) \2 E/ z' Q, w4 |$ _& H0 HOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to* C) C/ c6 H- f# r# w3 Z
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to
+ q: y0 ]+ x2 j) n/ a1 aadopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,( \* _; C `( w+ @: ^+ ~$ ^* F
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier* Y% X) G3 v& Q' D) M
Island).
# A: C" X2 p1 x: cHowever, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and" \6 w; S' W' }& ?0 n
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
: L8 \( _- {4 F+ Q4 bmost appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer% b A6 f8 R3 o2 f+ k( D* l
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
& x1 _& Y% ] R8 P2 T icontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to! J6 A0 |9 A* W* y# Z m" c
manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
- f) i- ?( [% r5 x6 rthe current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will* V' { ~4 h. v$ {, O1 S
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
6 }/ B) M+ F& EWeekend to 1 March.
+ Y: N2 z) e4 y/ F( B: _; TConsideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
' e7 e$ V" W) c2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
4 a: B; p" M' Q" h6 w4 Z% dconducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |