Time ticks by for your say on dog rules | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Aucklanders wanting to have their say on Auckland Council's proposed policy and bylaw on dogs have until February 27 to make a submission.

One of the issues the policy covers is the hours during which dogs can be on beaches, and other public places, and that drew strong feedback when The Aucklander raised it when the council's draft document was released in December for feedback.

The draft showed the council wants uniformity over all Auckland beaches. It was looking at extending dogs' beach hours from 10am to 6.30pm with the restrictions continuing through March.

Dog owners told the Aucklander that they want a better deal for their pets, as the length of time dogs are banned from beaches stretches every year.

Restrictions are imposed during daylight saving. But as those hours have been extended over the years so has dogs' freedom to walk on Auckland beaches - either on or off leashes.

The rules vary across seven regions encompassing the former councils. At Milford on the North Shore, for example, dogs cannot be on the beach between 10am and 6.30pm. In Rodney, it's 9am to 7pm, likewise in Manukau.

North Shore dog owner Jill Parsons has two dogs. She belongs to Dog Friends, which is campaigning for dogs to be allowed on beaches for more months of the year.

"Over the years we've seen an erosion in access to the beach for dogs and their owners," she said when the Aucklander spoke to her in December. "The summer restrictions on beach access used to start at Labour Weekend at the end of October, but some time ago this was changed to the start of daylight saving in September.

"Daylight saving was extended by another three weeks a few years ago, which disadvantaged dog owners still further," she says.

This year daylight saving began on September 25 and doesn't end until April 1. We're not being unreasonable. We agree dogs shouldn't be on the beach between November and February, but look at the beaches in October - they're deserted!"

Dog Friends proposed access in daylight hours should be from November 1 to the end of February, noting this would also coincide better with school holidays and the busier summer season.

"The majority of our 4000-plus members will support 10am to 6.30pm times, and a Labour Weekend start for restrictions, but they would totally disagree with the restrictions continuing until March 31 when the beaches are empty. Our beaches aren't busy when children are at school."

Mrs Parsons also points out that originally the rules were intended to keep beaches clear of dogs during the summer months.

"But it's hardly summer for six months of the year, is it?"

The Council says it received more than 3000 submissions from the the public within the first two weeks of the consultation period and was "delighted with the response".

Chair of the council's Regulatory and Bylaws Committee, Councillor Des Morrison, said feedback so far has been on a range of proposals including "harmonistion across Auckland of dog access rules for many public places", delegations to local boards and limits to having multiple dogs on a single property.

Cr Morrison says while dog owners obviously have strong feelings about the proposals, the council is also keen to hear from non-dog owners, whose enjoyment of the region's public places - including beaches - is equally as important.

The council will consider the submissions and hold a public hearing before making any final decisions. The new policy and bylaw is expected to be operative from October 1 2012.

To find out more, including a full statement of proposal, and to make an online submission, click here.