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Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs& s" ?( P4 L- L4 q
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
4 E/ X% I5 K" m+ ^6 ? H4 h A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
4 F0 g4 e* ^* c* n2 d1 v A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
) k3 l/ u- g' h# a0 \* U. cpublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
5 ?7 S" |* K) Z" a5 J5 q) Y+ y Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.5 @+ ^% q. @( C+ p \
Region-wide dog access rules that include:- y9 @ \ I. t# v2 T
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
0 R6 B8 t! G: i) d$ gareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
@1 `9 D: t0 @use.2 J0 l# @6 S, |4 ]3 U( i
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current
+ }1 [ n4 n0 r# iexemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
" ?+ W* z& w1 FMadills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,
" Q7 I2 h! r" zand on sports fields in the former Franklin district.0 U5 z( H4 h$ b8 I: r: i' S; [ p
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to& ]: W+ ^/ D/ U+ z7 i+ n4 \% j! a4 G
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under* X5 ~, D: ~2 s. u2 m
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under8 `' ~- i5 ]" V$ P: M
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm+ ]9 Y2 r0 a, \# s3 j
during daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-
' i3 R, W, K0 W XPark area of the Waitakere Ranges.
Q) f. Y4 H% ]# [' T Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,8 T4 K) f* W/ V( S. S4 w! W" l
requirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from9 J2 N1 Z/ S+ g1 _
public places and shared driveways.* o% c' U/ x3 Q
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
. D) h! E9 k$ k4 Tdogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing) K0 C8 `" l9 F H
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.: Q" w2 t& E% ?" w% D& `3 o3 j
What about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and/ \, ^+ \. o- A+ c( l% Q( |
time and season dog access rules?( K, i1 B. f, t% e ^* ^
A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
- A: z: I |5 ~9 S7 Jdecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation; K; X7 Y1 Y# T
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
1 s# L. r- P1 \# t3 ?3 Xchanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the" L3 V _' D0 z' i
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.1 j; e, p: M1 z2 [/ o4 Q, M: o
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
" i+ g( a% f8 S1 J% c+ G- Dbe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to7 V6 U' F0 n N/ n
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
) j# p. `/ g2 ]7 M6 G- J& ~6 Zand to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
7 {9 Z# M: c- dIsland).
+ Z* I) ^$ I* mHowever, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and: X- X5 @8 O+ n; Y3 a2 `
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the$ Y( @! m2 s. O: r7 r' n8 k. x
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer7 _7 c5 x% N1 z# Z6 }; L
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
0 l5 K* h8 }2 r& H4 a, dcontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
! Q- t% t; t: c! o( x4 M( Tmanage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made0 P, R( @, J. D
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will3 X! J4 ]( E) P6 y! I( R
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
( n3 L9 h' V& Q0 E2 H; FWeekend to 1 March.% @$ w9 {7 |( @1 {6 N! c
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in5 z- ~5 f3 A( l& z& \7 }" I& |
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
, o" [( {5 v: ~$ ?) n4 S C; Vconducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |