Proposal 2: Minimum standards for dog welfare

Council considers that the welfare of dogs in the district is an important part of responsible dog ownership and effective dog control. Under the Dog Control Act 1996, Council has the discretion to prescribe minimum standards for the accommodation of dogs in the district.

Council is proposing to update these standards so that they align with the standards set out in the Ministry for Primary Industries Code of Welfare: Dogs and the Animal Welfare Act 1999. This will provide Dog Control Officers with a clear and consistent set of standards they may use to evaluate the conditions in which dogs are kept.

Where those standards indicate that a dog may not be receiving appropriate care, the information can assist officers in identifying and reporting potential instances of non-compliance with the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to the appropriate authority.

The proposed changes are intended to provide clearer expectations for the care and accommodation of dogs in the district and strengthen the tools available to support their welfare.

Clause Number and Name	Subclause/s

605 Dog welfare	Dog owners and persons in charge of dogs must ensure that the welfare of dogs in their care meets, as a minimum, the standard prescribed in the Ministry for Primary Industries Code of Welfare: Dogs, as amended or replaced from time to time. Council will use the minimum standards contained in the Code of Welfare: Dogs as the standard for assessing whether the welfare needs of a dog are being adequately met, having regard to the circumstances of the individual dog and its environment. This bylaw does not reproduce the requirements of the Code of Welfare: Dogs. Dog owners are responsible for familiarising themselves and complying with the applicable requirements of the code, the Animal Welfare Act 1999, and any other relevant regulations. The owner or person in charge of any female dog must keep the dog confined but adequately exercised while she is in season.

Clause Number and Name

Subclause/s

605 Dog welfare

Dog owners and persons in charge of dogs must ensure that the welfare of dogs in their care meets, as a minimum, the standard prescribed in the Ministry for Primary Industries Code of Welfare: Dogs, as amended or replaced from time to time.
Council will use the minimum standards contained in the Code of Welfare: Dogs as the standard for assessing whether the welfare needs of a dog are being adequately met, having regard to the circumstances of the individual dog and its environment.
This bylaw does not reproduce the requirements of the Code of Welfare: Dogs. Dog owners are responsible for familiarising themselves and complying with the applicable requirements of the code, the Animal Welfare Act 1999, and any other relevant regulations.
The owner or person in charge of any female dog must keep the dog confined but adequately exercised while she is in season.