Dog Control Policy and Bylaw Review

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Consultation has concluded

We’re asking for your feedback on the changes we’re considering for our Dog Control Policy and Bylaw. It doesn’t matter if you own a dog or not, we want to hear what you think.

We’re proposing some changes to the way we manage the safety and wellbeing of dogs in Upper Hutt. Currently we do this through our Dog Control Policy, which we enforce using our Dog Control Bylaw and the Dog Control Act 1996.

While dogs are a key part of many people’s lives, they can also pose hazards and be a nuisance. We want to ensure our policy helps dogs be a positive part of people’s lives.  We’re reviewing our policy and bylaws because we want to:

  • Adopt measures to minimise the problems caused by dogs  

  • Protect dogs from harm and ensure their welfare and wellbeing  

  • Maintain opportunities for owners to exercise their dogs in public places.  

We’re required to review our bylaws and policies on a ten-yearly basis to ensure they are still fit for purpose and relevant in today’s environment. We last reviewed our policy and bylaw in August 2011.


PROPOSED CHANGES

We’re proposing to change our Policy and Bylaw so we can:

  • Have a more practical process for owners wanting to keep more than two dogs on their property

  • Have a more practical and pragmatic approach to enforcement for instances of dog barking

  • Remove the current registration fee class for ‘Rural dogs’

  • A person would need to meet the ‘Responsible Owner’ criteria for a period of 12-months to be eligible for a discounted dog registration fee – like a ‘No Claims Discount’ for car insurance

These changes would not come into effect until 1 July 2023.


HAVE YOUR SAY

Before we make any changes, we’d like to hear feedback from both dog owners, and the wider community. Your feedback will help us understand what really matters to people, and what controls would best support our goals.

Follow the steps below to make a submission:

STEP 1 – READ THE PROPOSAL

Please read the Statement of Proposal in the Supporting Information section. This explains the background and issues we’ve found, along with the possible approaches to address these.

Printed copies of the documents are also available at the Council reception, both Upper Hutt Libraries, H₂O Xtream Aquatic Centre and Whirinaki Whare Taonga.

STEP 2 - MAKE A SUBMISSION

You can either:

  • Complete the online submission form below

  • Download and print a PDF submission form (in the Supporting Information section), and email it to letskorero@uhcc.govt.nz

  • Complete a pre-printed submission form available at Council reception, Upper Hutt Libraries, or Whirinaki Whare Taonga. You can either drop it off at one of these locations, or Freepost it to Upper Hutt City Council, Private Bag 907, Upper Hutt, 5140.

If you would like your name to be withheld from the public documents, please indicate this in your submission.

Submissions close 19 June 2022.

STEP 3 (OPTIONAL) – SPEAK WITH US

You can also share your feedback with Councillors in person, at a dedicated Dog Control Policy and Bylaw hearing meeting. If you would like to do this, please let us know via your submission form and we will send you details of the meeting closer to the time.

If you have a question about how to make a submission online or about any of the information on this page, let us know at letskorero@uhcc.govt.nz or call (04) 527 2169.

We’re asking for your feedback on the changes we’re considering for our Dog Control Policy and Bylaw. It doesn’t matter if you own a dog or not, we want to hear what you think.

We’re proposing some changes to the way we manage the safety and wellbeing of dogs in Upper Hutt. Currently we do this through our Dog Control Policy, which we enforce using our Dog Control Bylaw and the Dog Control Act 1996.

While dogs are a key part of many people’s lives, they can also pose hazards and be a nuisance. We want to ensure our policy helps dogs be a positive part of people’s lives.  We’re reviewing our policy and bylaws because we want to:

  • Adopt measures to minimise the problems caused by dogs  

  • Protect dogs from harm and ensure their welfare and wellbeing  

  • Maintain opportunities for owners to exercise their dogs in public places.  

We’re required to review our bylaws and policies on a ten-yearly basis to ensure they are still fit for purpose and relevant in today’s environment. We last reviewed our policy and bylaw in August 2011.


PROPOSED CHANGES

We’re proposing to change our Policy and Bylaw so we can:

  • Have a more practical process for owners wanting to keep more than two dogs on their property

  • Have a more practical and pragmatic approach to enforcement for instances of dog barking

  • Remove the current registration fee class for ‘Rural dogs’

  • A person would need to meet the ‘Responsible Owner’ criteria for a period of 12-months to be eligible for a discounted dog registration fee – like a ‘No Claims Discount’ for car insurance

These changes would not come into effect until 1 July 2023.


HAVE YOUR SAY

Before we make any changes, we’d like to hear feedback from both dog owners, and the wider community. Your feedback will help us understand what really matters to people, and what controls would best support our goals.

Follow the steps below to make a submission:

STEP 1 – READ THE PROPOSAL

Please read the Statement of Proposal in the Supporting Information section. This explains the background and issues we’ve found, along with the possible approaches to address these.

Printed copies of the documents are also available at the Council reception, both Upper Hutt Libraries, H₂O Xtream Aquatic Centre and Whirinaki Whare Taonga.

STEP 2 - MAKE A SUBMISSION

You can either:

  • Complete the online submission form below

  • Download and print a PDF submission form (in the Supporting Information section), and email it to letskorero@uhcc.govt.nz

  • Complete a pre-printed submission form available at Council reception, Upper Hutt Libraries, or Whirinaki Whare Taonga. You can either drop it off at one of these locations, or Freepost it to Upper Hutt City Council, Private Bag 907, Upper Hutt, 5140.

If you would like your name to be withheld from the public documents, please indicate this in your submission.

Submissions close 19 June 2022.

STEP 3 (OPTIONAL) – SPEAK WITH US

You can also share your feedback with Councillors in person, at a dedicated Dog Control Policy and Bylaw hearing meeting. If you would like to do this, please let us know via your submission form and we will send you details of the meeting closer to the time.

If you have a question about how to make a submission online or about any of the information on this page, let us know at letskorero@uhcc.govt.nz or call (04) 527 2169.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Submission Form

    Dog Control Policy & Bylaw - Have your say

    Submissions close Sunday, 19 June 2022. Please note that your submission will be made public, including your name, unless you ask for it to be withheld (you can specify this on this digital submission form).

    Terms of making a submission

    Upper Hutt City Council collects contact information on this form as part of the consultation process. Unless you request that your name remains private, it will be made public alongside your submission. Your personal information will be securely stored at Upper Hutt City Council and only accessed by Council officers for the intended purpose. You can request that your personal information be corrected at any time. If you speak to your submission at a Council meeting, your name will be included in the minutes, as these are a Public Document. Submission of this form is deemed as your agreement to these terms.

    Consultation has concluded
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