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Dog Control Practices and Policy Report

Report on Dog Control Practices and Policy

New Plymouth District

Dog Control Act 1996-Section 10A

You can read the report for 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 online as html text below or download the PDF document. The report for 05/06 is also available as a PDF.

• Dog Control Practices and Policy 06/07 (Three pages 26KB PDF)
• Dog Control Practices and Policy 05/06 (Four pages 15KB PDF)

Report 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007

The Dog Control Amendment Act 2003 requires territorial authorities to publicly report on dog control policy and practices as outlined under section 10A of the Dog Control Act 1996. This report contains information and statistics on the council’s dog control activity for the year 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007.

1. DOG CONTROL IN DISTRICT

Five dog control officers ensure 24-hour, seven-day week coverage of dog control activities to ensure compliance with the Dog Control Act 1996 and council bylaw requirements. Officers work closely with a local veterinary group and the SPCA.

2. DOG POUND

The pound is open to the public from 4pm to 5pm Monday to Friday. There are 25 individual holding pens for dogs and two exercise pens. Dogs taken to the pound and wearing an identifiable tag will result in the owner being contacted and a letter being sent to the owner requesting uplifting of the dog within seven days from the pound. Dogs not wearing a tag will be held for a minimum period of seven days awaiting possible enquiry from the owners or thereafter re-homing of the dog can be considered.

A total of 783 dogs were impounded during the year. Officers were successful in returning 569 dogs to their owners or a new owner.

3. DOG CONTROL ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES

This is undertaken either by the routine visitations (ranging) of officers to usually designated prohibited or leashed control areas for dogs or during investigation of complaints received.

A total of 3231 complaints were received and that combined with follow-up of owners failing to register dogs resulted in the issue of 272 infringement notices for unregistered dogs and a further 124 infringement notices being issued for dog control related matters. The infringement fee that currently applies for failure to register a dog or comply with bylaw requirements (eg removal of faeces) is $300.Return to top

4. PROHIBITED AND LEASHED CONTROL AREAS

The district is fortunate in having a number of varied locations where owners may freely exercise their dogs (providing they are under control and not causing annoyance to others) apart from the few areas designated as banned or leashed control areas for dogs.

Banned areas include predominantly Ngamotu and Urenui beaches, children’s play areas, and the New Plymouth CBD.  Fitzroy and Oakura beaches are banned to dogs between 9am and 6pm when daylight saving is in force.

Leashed control areas include mainly the lower Te Henui walkway, and Bell Block beach between the hours of 9am and 6pm when daylight saving is in force, various shopping centres and Puke Ariki Landing. Pukekura Park is a leashed control area, however, dogs are banned from the playground areas, the fernery and Brooklands Zoological enclosure. The New Plymouth Coastal Walkway is also a leashed control area between the car park at Kawaroa Park through to the eastern side of the Te Henui stream foot bridge.

5. DOG REGISTRATION

Registration fees approved for the year resulted in a fee being set for rural dogs at $41 for the first two dogs and the residential fee being set at $104 for the year and rebates available for pensioner ($10.00) neutered dog ($15.00) or responsible dog ownership rebates ($19.00) as applicable.

There were 10,017 dogs recorded as being registered during the 2006/2007 year.Return to top

6. STATISTICAL INFORMATION

Category	For period 01 July 2006 - 30 June 2007
1. Total Registered Dogs	10,017
2. Total # Probationary Owners	NIL
3. Total # Disqualified Owners	NIL
4. Total # Dangerous Dogs	6
a)  Dangerous by Owner     Conviction Under s31(1)(a)	NIL
b)  Dangerous by Sworn     Evidence s31(1)(b)	6
c)  Dangerous by Owner     Admittance in Writing s31(1)(c)	NIL
5. Total # Menacing Dogs	102
a)  Menacing under s33A(1)(b)(i)     i.e. by behaviour	24
b)  Menacing under s33A(1)(b)(ii)     by Breed Characteristics	NIL
c)  Menacing under s33C(1)     by Schedule 4 Breed.	78
6. Total # Infringement Notices.	396
7. Total # Service Requests Received	3231
a) Aggressive behaviour     b) Attack bird/poultry     c) Attack cat     d) Attack dog     e) Attack livestock     f) Attack person     g) Attack on protected wildlife     h) Barking     i) Impounding on request     j) Failure to remove faeces     k) Leashed control area     l) Miscellaneous     m) Dead animal     n) Prohibited area     o) Control     p) Left in vehicle     q) Wandering	145 11  32  56  29  69  1 631  387  62  7  586  56  14  30  22  1093
8. Total service requests	3231

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