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Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs1 l2 i! p/ g' t: v7 y/ Z
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
5 W3 j8 o$ S1 y6 \ A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.$ N5 K$ Q6 C! k% m
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to$ G+ c2 Y/ |0 p) _2 F
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.
. u& w3 E q- M# c; a4 Z9 f! [ Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches., t7 I* I. U q, k6 j c
Region-wide dog access rules that include:
' `2 \5 G2 J5 |0 D# K" Io Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
- W- W* j3 {- i3 o( J f7 aareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
* F: v3 D7 S$ n/ nuse.! G# m6 \5 W9 M* L2 Y; W" ^
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current2 q9 U% j5 b' B- n
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
( k1 X* Z$ H% ?Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,: n' D" y- Q6 P$ i6 E9 ~
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
& e$ l. m, i7 @+ q" \ Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
9 P7 _0 n: P7 J! p5 vimplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under, k$ [' R4 m! q- v2 i
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under3 F! Y: S5 D/ P% H" h
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm" I+ N- J. ^# k+ J
during daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-4 j3 Z2 Z/ h0 q: i6 L
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
0 m# Y- q& \% \) C9 O Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,+ g& C# p3 c% R. n9 M4 z. u
requirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from- ?& W/ b& ?2 f, z: ^4 U
public places and shared driveways.7 r* }. `& p6 m2 |7 p. p* ~ n% B
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of( O: {# y5 h8 _- _: p, D
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing
4 b$ c5 d; C+ | A+ gdangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
4 ]8 ~1 u K' s+ P) R7 m7 A. zWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
- T: z/ k/ e, Ntime and season dog access rules?
! J1 r% m" M0 E- iA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
! h l! g: J% ~" W) F+ n5 Gdecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
: d4 W1 P. S7 H0 K) k3 f- [6 tand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
' k9 H0 `- |1 C3 t- r% Tchanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the; W! N4 N! j8 [$ R: U6 B
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
/ ?! B. F% y- C) oOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
5 _7 e1 H# {3 Q/ b# e" hbe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to
1 M8 I/ g/ Y' Cadopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
, U6 t1 z# _% W- T! t' Hand to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier& q0 R7 F* y6 C% h- Z/ O
Island).( y# m* V. c+ N& r
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and$ D% o- w1 |! j1 H
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the( N' m2 e f S: U
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer
% x! D2 n% ^; B- W; {/ ktimes and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under& K1 X4 p- H& I* [: S8 L2 t
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
1 c( p1 y; D! Y, h8 x7 Z" Lmanage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made9 s7 w* R, o) h
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will' h7 e$ V& W/ }( L
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour/ J$ W* Z- b, c+ U
Weekend to 1 March.( Y/ A5 e S! b3 \" h
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in* `) B" M4 E1 W& l
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
9 o' [- r/ L8 m# j$ ^! Wconducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |