Now's the time for people to have their say on dog control in our communities and whether the balance is right between protecting public safety and allowing owners and their dogs the freedom to play their part in community life.
Whakatāne District Council is reviewing its Dog Control Policy and wants your thoughts on how effective the policy is in the management of dogs in our urban and rural communities.
The main aims of Council’s dog control policy are to ensure public safety, support good ownership so that dogs can be a positive part of community life, encourage dog registration, protect stock and protect endangered native fauna. The Policy is also an educational resource to promote good dog behaviour and responsible ownership.
Council's General Manager of Development and Environment Services, David Bewley, says it's timely to review the Policy so that it can reflect Council’s greater emphasis on educational and community-based solutions, as opposed to enforcement-based actions.
Council promotes responsible dog ownership through a variety of ways including school programmes, bite prevention seminars, one-on-one sessions with dog owners and property visits to check on dogs’ welfare, kennelling and registration status.
Mr Bewley says the review is an opportunity for people to say whether they think Council is doing enough to manage dog control issues, how we could do better, whether the Policy covers the issues well enough and if Council could deliver services more effectively.
"We recognise the huge part dogs play in many people's lives, but we also recognise the importance of ensuring dogs interact positively with our communities.
"Promoting responsible dog ownership and offering educational advice are part and parcel of our everyday interaction with our communities, both urban and rural.
"But we want to hear from our communities whether we are on the right track with the tools we have available to protect people in public spaces and to protect our precious native species such as Kiwi and Dotterel."
The revised draft policy puts more focus on public safety, responsible dog ownership and greater protection measures for endangered birds and stock. It also explores community-based partnerships and educational solutions to dog control in remote areas.
An example of such a partnership started between Council and Ngāti Manawa in 2017 which has been successful in reducing roaming dogs in Murupara, creating a safer township and increasing compliance. Council is keen to work on similar or other partnerships where this will meet the aims of the policy.
Key changes for review:
- lowering the risk of attack by roaming dogs to Kiwi and Dotterel in urban areas
- reducing the risk of attack by roaming dogs on farming stock
- recognising the value working dogs bring to our rural sector
- exploring community-based/partnership solutions and educational programmes to increase compliance and public safety, particularly in the more rural areas of the district
- inclusion of minor legislative changes.
Specific points on which Council would like feedback:
- Are the additional aims added to the proposed Policy necessary?
- Do the proposed changes adequately reflect local characteristics?
- Do you agree to the general approach of placing greater emphasis on education and community-based solutions to dog control issues, particularly in rural areas?
- Are there other elements that would lead to better dog control services?
- What are dog control issues in your community and does this Policy address these?
- Who else should we involve in delivering effective dog control?
Any individual or organisation is welcome to make a submission on the Draft Dog Control Policy. All submissions will be considered by Council in its decision making on the final Policy content.
Submissions are now and close at 5pm, Friday, 27 May 2022. Hearings will likely take place in June 2022.
Find out more and make a submission online »
Informal submissions can also be made by commenting on Dog Control Policy related posts on our Facebook page.