Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs- F4 p2 T* h$ ?4 F/ c( e) u3 o. f
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
( I* a$ f+ h6 ^! g& u A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.# Q$ w3 \, T* ^7 D
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
4 l- D+ u/ R# }8 _; w& }# Cpublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
9 g. Z- [( N0 h/ J8 b Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.( y" X0 h$ w$ T% B- f8 \. x
Region-wide dog access rules that include:% v' M& ]6 d1 E$ t
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
2 C) m# l( A# p3 Uareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in2 N8 m# ]/ }. i4 F9 r% v
use.& E0 G% L% p+ A) a& z+ u1 |
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current% B: Z! m0 F3 ]% k- Q" a! r
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,/ ^$ ^2 s9 t& A3 T9 @
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,
% a0 j4 } I0 I- p; hand on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
! ]: n8 ?* n2 t0 Q Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to; B0 h R7 o" i9 S) w6 K. ?8 Y
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
5 j% u' F6 g6 I8 r, m, icontrol off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under; R+ Q$ d6 s% ^/ d9 f: q" f: c
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
2 l) C" G% g1 n- Y7 B6 dduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-% d! {3 X4 a7 m
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
6 v A& j. x/ g' Z Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
1 u. ]4 e3 f* P- }9 n6 nrequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from
! Z7 X5 z& Y' ]) T2 w9 z0 Z7 |public places and shared driveways., r5 q4 i2 y1 C3 D+ J( d% s# I
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
- C/ |9 h% N: q$ h, K! ^dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing7 k1 y% x: ^. H1 l% C! @$ x
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.6 y+ V. s/ j5 p% ~; ]* f7 b
What about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
7 h0 J, D1 `9 u6 e' G# Htime and season dog access rules?- D2 A0 ?% R8 ^' r
A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
9 j8 J# @: K, A- `8 o1 x: ^decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation3 i# n+ b( |+ ?- T
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
) Y5 y( N5 }) A4 ?3 W' R% g, Gchanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the. A7 ~6 {" o! D' }
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
0 l% O4 \; l4 D3 B- bOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
, U% ]7 c/ a4 F! y) Abe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to
( b3 q( B( p# ~% y, H% ~0 }adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
( E T9 {* X& _4 H+ tand to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
7 Q# W8 q6 N- |* `Island).& w/ K2 {+ K; b# X& o* n& ]7 q
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and+ ^" t8 K1 c& G8 M
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the% V$ J+ m* ^' j8 ^) e7 B
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer
; X$ n( i+ x2 O8 atimes and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under+ `# @* \2 t: ] v2 j2 o
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to+ k' K3 T, |/ _
manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
8 _7 c# x+ ~5 ^9 s Q6 p# Vthe current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will) w8 p) b# |4 [9 n- a0 ^" q. N
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
, ?% K+ I3 O% g% A1 u( p3 W# ^Weekend to 1 March.& Y/ v9 J, G- n, f
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
; Y6 h9 j, P4 D2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be/ u+ L" M$ n# Q
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |