Thursday 1 September 2016

Spring brings new dog rules

New rules for Christchurch dogs come into effect from the first day of spring,Thursday 1 September 2016.

The new rules are outlined in Christchurch City Council’s recently reviewed Dog Control Policy and Dog Control Bylaw, which was approved in June 2016 after extensive consultation with dog owners and residents.

“The changes strike a balance between making sure the wider public can enjoy peace of mind, and making the rules easier for dog owners to understand,” explains Mark Vincent, the Council’s Team Leader Animal Management.

“The changes were pretty widely accepted across the board, and the feedback we got from more than 250 members of the public has led to a few tweaks that really tidied things up,” Mr Vincent says.

“The Council is keen to encourage a culture of good dog ownership in Christchurch and although the vast majority of dog owners are very responsible and respectful, keeping our city and rural areas clean and safe for people – and other animals – requires the efforts of every single dog owner.”

Major changes to the general rules for dog owners include:

• A requirement for dog owners to carry plastic bags to clean up dog poo when in public places.

• A change to the definition of ‘under effective control’ to make it clearer that when dog owners have their dog off-leash in a public place, they must be aware of where their dog is and what it is doing, and ensure it is responsive to commands and is not creating a nuisance.

The new policy also makes changes to the rules about where dogs can and cannot be taken, or where they must be kept on a leash. A map showing all these areas, along with more details about the new policy and bylaw, can be found at www.ccc.govt.nz/dogbylaw

“The review has also given us the chance to clarify and reinforce two existing requirements that we see as vitally important,” Mr Vincent says.

“To help protect children, who are overrepresented in dog bite statistics, dogs are prohibited from being within one metre of all Council playgrounds, paddling pools and skate parks.

“Also, to help avoid traffic accidents, dogs must be on a leash on all roads, footpaths, berms and verges, car parks, state highways and boat ramps. Having your dog on a leash is as much about the safety of your dog as it is about the safety of other road users.”

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