1 September 2004

Rodney District Council adopts Dog Policy and Bylaw

Rodney District Council has adopted a new Dog Policy and Dog Bylaw.

The Council also accepted a recommendation that the public be further consulted regarding future possible amendments to Schedule Three. This Schedule covers where exactly in Rodney District dogs can be exercised off a leash and the consultation may give the opportunity for more places to be added to it.

Mayor John Law said the deliberations on the Draft Policy had proved to be difficult.

“Nevertheless we analysed the written and verbal submissions the public put forward carefully and decided to recommend that Red Beach and Stanmore Bay be withdrawn as designated dog exercise areas.”

“Exercise areas will however be increased in number from 12 to 30 district-wide and we’ll be going through a further process to consider more off-leash areas in Rodney.”

“I think our communities can appreciate that Rodney is huge in comparison to the metropolitan areas to our south and that therefore there is ample opportunity to meet the needs of more than one point of view.”

The Mayor says there is a great diversity of opinion ranging from the prescriptive on the one hand to the permissive on the other.

“There are those who say dogs everywhere except in such and such a place. That’s the permissive opinion. Then there is the prescriptive or prohibitive point of view which says dogs nowhere with the exception of so and so a place or places. I have to say there are some polarised opinions in our communities and the reason for revisiting part of the process was that some Councillors could see the merits in easing up on some our regulations. Given that, we need to consult again in and in some more detail.”

The Bylaw came into effect on 1 September, 2004.

ENDS

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