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Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
F# x+ o Z; D- o( }6 o1 u What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
% N# D7 D" i9 @ A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
- _- k2 G8 p k( x0 }8 y A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to& `4 p5 a/ f8 ~
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.' F7 S3 M; c4 B# {' |: P9 m
Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.; B/ o# d5 `/ c2 N& p) Y
Region-wide dog access rules that include:
, v% }: u. B3 \3 l& @. Bo Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
4 x/ r' c: S, C: mareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in- F) N( F2 D/ h: N
use.
$ @; o7 |$ \7 V. s/ s3 io Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current! ~ j4 B' o2 a q4 X
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,1 W6 B2 j7 U# @$ }$ n0 s
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park," f6 E- d' E! p! ~; Z
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
4 r. s1 y* f, u1 S; @3 W' R1 K1 p: y Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to2 k; U( ?& Q/ c; V' e2 o4 I: h3 _
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
# T( h9 o! T7 Y, e, Z& V$ e$ [control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under2 ]8 E7 _3 Y3 B0 F4 Z0 }3 G% O4 @7 q
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
4 l: a% ^' l2 Jduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-; |$ m; r! [9 D- E
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
+ J& p a& h& e7 n1 U Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
4 |: x9 A" l2 R4 ^- F3 o7 frequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from5 _, i, [( @+ ^, Q
public places and shared driveways.. M3 y! U6 K# R9 Q L3 V( z
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of0 W v( R5 m8 t# H
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing1 A( L ^" R. e- a$ y
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.2 g% v+ {* w! B1 W7 F+ `
What about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
. S1 o; k. `$ m7 etime and season dog access rules?- m, J* s0 s# J( I3 H3 L
A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access' B1 ^( e, \4 W# _
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
( R0 P" i6 O; k' X( q6 e- wand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
1 a; P+ X/ ] d' l' nchanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the
" [4 s; ?, ~4 ~ \0 c( g" X* |new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.; i4 ^" M7 Y2 X1 I; a* m, V5 m
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to& y0 f) @; w+ G2 R) d! f: B
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to
2 y( q" |6 X$ Zadopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,% F u1 o- l/ i$ U
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
# ]% q( Y, X) @9 C7 xIsland).
* R: N. Y$ s( \& [! y7 \) e: k3 |+ v) ~8 DHowever, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and1 k- v' p: O, q1 ]5 y
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the2 M, ~+ c( {, V0 ]+ Y
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer* Q( j) M. K( F( ~! R# b8 o) Y1 O6 \
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
# `4 Y5 @! S- |! }9 @control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
0 R" e$ n* w1 k$ j) ?, t$ T0 B7 J; `manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made: \ W/ Y* G( i' `0 R5 N
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will5 j, V7 x' u, _$ K3 x" c( z& e4 d+ y% `
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
4 J$ l7 Z9 m% `- bWeekend to 1 March.
7 c6 ?3 U4 Q$ ^5 m. sConsideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
/ `/ ^7 B8 G1 s+ }2 J2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
! r' x* C r" H! n) ~% E; w- y( E7 Oconducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |