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Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs* {* E6 w" k- N d# ?8 {
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?% V5 j5 Y E/ h, s/ `& ~8 Q
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.7 X3 o& \' ?; E& ^
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
6 o6 X) F5 s9 K7 a" V; V9 xpublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
" ~( S3 k; y; z- J7 w Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.% i( E+ i7 O4 e: a& N
Region-wide dog access rules that include:
( k8 C* _+ N/ h3 R6 Eo Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
1 W6 G4 X; c& @$ l7 Rareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in+ L; g" [# w: d! U5 j
use.& V6 X K. Z2 e4 S4 G% ^
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current% I7 L6 l( V. R: J5 p6 ~7 b
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
6 Y7 {0 g" o! ?/ q) B' IMadills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,
9 a- `9 ]' L% h) iand on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
+ y9 U" o+ _6 w! _7 z Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
! g! P, B* u0 }3 w; U+ Z3 timplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under! l: q+ L: p! g' C: I& o
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under$ d0 N& V8 J' i$ F1 E3 C m% J; l
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
9 c* e+ z7 G, y4 h: f% wduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-
) K( e) G: c3 @: {5 UPark area of the Waitakere Ranges.
3 b8 x& }+ P9 F0 y9 p. u% l$ H* ? Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
1 p/ g4 P2 d4 e6 t. xrequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from
4 d& H4 U; H9 x" {public places and shared driveways. ^# c& r* _5 V* f! m' `, P
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
: F8 V: x# T( p2 \4 Ydogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing) U( g8 F' H% k& ^
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
4 C3 E/ r2 {# y! u/ p& vWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and; _3 \3 `+ d' F8 M
time and season dog access rules?
' D8 F. M% ?. Y# o5 N3 g" L; EA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
7 k3 L, X( q% S$ w7 _( ^% Idecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation% `+ S" J' U9 g! w8 G! {# S
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting8 T$ f3 _+ u6 l& N/ M! w
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the
5 B6 I7 A: r0 d- C$ enew decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
: Y! i0 v2 I2 p, a% C0 M! ]One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
4 y8 a }% F" }2 y" ^* abe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to
1 N" P! ?3 k9 \adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,) o$ w: ~' j2 R+ z
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier* z4 v2 \; G' Z9 T v/ i$ h
Island).
, i$ a0 l% s+ `/ I9 G7 I( g) \However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and# R- K e- z: S& p' t; x J
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
; C! q" I% t7 \. I$ vmost appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer) X' G- S# n) r/ n) Q/ k( h: k
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under0 ]4 L& U/ k3 H, h
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
+ P k' e9 I& M0 h8 T5 @manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
, D. F7 t7 V5 @% o5 \0 athe current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will
+ n) T5 P2 z! wcontinue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour: F* `) m, s* e' x
Weekend to 1 March.2 d$ t! @9 k' g
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in" H" ^( _* \% G" v1 _: Z7 E
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be- A4 D4 x- N% `4 ]7 R/ o) `& T
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |