PROPOSEDWANGANUIDISTRICTCOUNCILDOGCONTROLPOLICY2015
STATEMENTOFPROPOSAL
1. INTRODUCTION
The Dog Control Act 1996 (“the Act”) regulates the control of dogs within New
Zealand.Section10oftheActrequiresCounciltoadoptadogcontrolpolicythatis
enforceablebyacomplementarydogcontrolbylaw.
2. LEGISLATIVEFRAMEWORK
TheCouncilhasastatutoryobligationtohaveapolicyinrespectofdogswithinits
district; section 10 of the Act sets out those matters which Council must consider
andincludeinitspolicy.
PolicyConsiderations
Everypolicyadoptedundersection10oftheActshall:
2.1. specifythenatureandapplicationofanybylaw;
2.2. identify any public places in which dogs are to be prohibited, either
generallyoratspecifiedtimes,
2.3. identifyany particular public places in which dogs (other than working
dogs)aretoberequiredbyabylawtobecontrolledonaleash;
2.4. identifythoseareasinrespectofwhichnopublicplacesorareasaretobe
identifiedunderparagraph(b)or(c);
2.5. identifythoseareasofthedistrictthataretobedesignatedasdogexercise
areasinwhichdogsmaybeexercisedatlarge;
2.6. state whether dogs classified as menacing dogs under section 33A or 33C
arerequiredtobeneutered;
2.7. statewhetherdogsclassifiedbyanyotherterritorialauthorityasmenacing
dogsundersection33Aor33Carerequiredtobeneutered;
2.8. includesuchotherdetailsofthepolicyastheCouncilthinksfitincluding
2.8.1. feesorproposedfees;
2.8.2. ownereducationprogrammes;
2.8.3. dogobediencecourses;
2.8.4. theclassificationofowners;
2.8.5. thedisqualificationofowners;
2.8.6. theissuingofinfringementnotices.
DogControlPolicy2015StatementofProposal
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Section 10(1) of the Act requires Council to follow the special consultative
proceduresetoutinsection83oftheLocalgovernmentAct2002toadopttheDog
Control Policy. This Statement of Proposal relates to the proposed Dog Control
Policy2015.
Section 10(2) of the Act requires Council to give notice of its draft Dog Control
Policy2015toeverypersonwhois,accordingtoitsregister,theownerofadog.
3. MAINCHANGESPROPOSED
PolicyObjective
3.1. Dog ownership is a legalrightthat is governed by theDogControlAct 1996.
ThisrightissubjecttoownerresponsibilitiesdetailedintheAct.
3.2. The Policy recognises that the majority of dog owners in the District are
responsible dog owners and that most interactions between dogs and the
publicarepositive.
3.3. TheprincipleobjectiveofthePolicyistomaintainahighlevelofresponsible
dog ownership; that objective is supported by the following five key
principles:
KeyPrinciples
3.4. Providing dogs, with their owners, a reasonable level of access to public
placeswhereownersenjoythecompanionshipoftheirdogwithoutcausing
danger,distress,ornuisancetothegeneralcommunity1;
3.5. Avoidingthe inherentdangerinallowingdogsto haveuncontrolledaccess
topublicplacesthatarefrequentedbychildren,whetherornotthechildren
areaccompaniedbyadults2;
3.6. Enabling,totheextentthatispracticable,thepublic(includingfamilies)to
use streets and public amenities without fear of attack or intimidation by
dogs by restricting access by dogs to public places where the likelihood of
conflictexistsbetweendogsandthepublicortheenvironment3;
3.7. Promoting public safety and responsible dog ownership by placing a high
priority on good dog ownership practices such as neutering and micro‐
chipping,encouragingtheuseofapprovededucationandobediencecourses
fordogs.
3.8. Rewardingresponsibledogownershipthroughlowerdogregistrationfees.
ComparativeTable
DogControlPolicy2008
DogControlPolicy2015
CouncilRolesandResponsibilities
AccessToPublicPlaces
ResponsibilitiesofDogOwners
ProhibitedPublicPlaces
1
Section 10(4)(a) of the Act Section 10(4)(b) of the Act 3
Section 10(4)(c) of the Act 2
DogControlPolicy2015StatementofProposal
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NuisancesCausedbyDogs
ExerciseAreas&ProhibitedAreasDogs
DistributionofDogControlCosts
UnregisteredDogs
DangerousDogs
Enforcement
DogsinPublicPlaces
DogsExerciseAreas
Registration
DogOwnership
ResponsibleDogOwner
DisqualifiedandProbationaryOwner
DogControl
NeuteredDog
MenacingDog
DangerousDog
MicrochipTransponder
CareandManagementofDogs
DogPound
Compliance
DefecatinginPublicPlaces
BarkingDogs
DogsnotunderControl
Dogs Rushing at Persons, Animals or
Vehicles
SeriousInjurytoPerson
One of the purposes of the proposed 2015 Policy is to make dog owners and the
community in general more aware of the responsibilities that come with dog
ownership. To assist in achieving that purpose the Policy duplicates what is
contained in the Act. While that may be considered unnecessary duplication it is
Council’s intention to provide to the general community a central document that
containsmostoftheprovisionsthatarerelevanttodogownership.
4. CONSULTATION
The consultation period will commence on 15 December 2014 and close at 5pm
Friday20February2015.
Council wants to involve the community, both urban and rural, in the review
processandtothatendCouncilseeksyourviewontheproposedWanganuiDistrict
CouncilDogControlPolicy2015.
A copy of the proposed Wanganui District Council Dog Control Policy 2015 and
StatementofProposalalongwiththeSummaryofInformationareavailablefrom:
 WanganuiDistrictCouncilOffice,101GuytonStreet,Wanganui;
 WanganuiDistrictCouncilPublicLibraries;
 Councilwebsite,www.wanganui.govt.nz;
 ByphoningtheCouncilofficeson063490000;or
 Emailing:[email protected]
DogControlPolicy2015StatementofProposal
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5. METHODSFORMAKINGASUBMISSION
Submissionsmaybemadeelectronicallyorinwriting.Electronicsubmissionforms
are available on the Council website at: www.wanganui.govt.nz. A hard copy
submission form is attached to the back of this document. Further hard copy
submission forms can also be downloaded from the Council website or obtained
fromtheCouncilAdministrativeBuilding.
THEPERIODWITHINWHICHSUBMISSIONSMAYBEMADE
The Council’s consultation period on the proposed Wanganui District Council Dog
ControlPolicy2015willcontinueuntil5PMFRIDAY20FEBRUARY2015.
Submissionsaretobeaddressedto:
PolicySubmissions
WanganuiDistrictCouncil
FreepostDXPA87019
WANGANUI
Marked:“SubmissionDogControlPolicy2015”andmaybe:
 Deliveredbyhandto101GuytonStreet,Wanganui;or
 PostedtoWanganuiDistrictCouncil,101GuytonStreet,Wanganui;or
 Emailedto:[email protected]
6. HEARINGOFSUBMISSIONS
Persons making submissions who wish to be heard by Council will be given the
opportunity to do so. The time and venue for the hearing of submissions will be
advisedlater.Submitterswishingtobeheardwillbeadvisedindividually.
KevinRoss
CHIEFEXECUTIVE
DogControlPolicy2015StatementofProposal
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