Saturday, 10 January 2015 00:00

Feedback sought on dog control

Written by 

THE SOUTHLAND District Council is review its dog control bylaws policies and wants to hear from the public.

 Environmental health manager Michael Sarfaiti says a public survey is the first step in the process. The survey will allow the council to consult informally with the public and give people the opportunity to express their views on dog control, which can be integrated into the review.

"Council believes that serious dog attacks are totally unacceptable, and knows that the public expects to be safe from dogs both at home and in public," Sarfaiti says.

"We receive about one reported dog attack a week, with most being attacks on other dogs and animals. Council wants to take this opportunity to make changes to both our bylaw and policy to reduce wandering, attacks and the number of unwanted dogs throughout the district."

Key issues the council is seeking feedback on in the survey include:

  • Should registration fees be lower for responsible owners and de-sexed dogs?
  • Should dog owners need a permit to keep multiple dogs?
  • Should the council visit every property in the district every few years, including for the purpose of identifying and managing higher-risk properties?
  • Do any local dog rules need to be changed?

The survey can be completed by visiting the council's website, www.southlanddc.govt.nz, or by visiting any of council's area offices, where surveys can be handed in at the counter or placed in a survey box.

Information gathered in the survey will then be used to produce a draft bylaw and policy, which will be put to the council on 18 March. Council will then hold a formal consultation process with the public, including a submissions hearing, with the new rules likely to be adopted on 3 June.

The survey will run until February 14.

More like this

Another win

OPINION: Feds Southland 'pres' Jason Herrick and colleagues who continue the good fight against bureaucratic madness on behalf of farmers, have had another win - for now, at least - getting a court decision granting a 'stay' on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until changes can be made to section 70 of the RMA by central goverment, somtheing they clearly signaled after the election.

Court decision a win for Southland farmers

Federated Farmers says it welcomes a recent court decision which granted a stay on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until legislative changes can be made by government.

Not fair

OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.

Featured

Top innovators announced

The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Are they serious?

OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…

A hurry up!

OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter