Dog Owners
Dog Owners
Dog owners are responsible for their dog and its behaviour. Section 5 of the Dog Control Act 1996 sets out statutory obligations for every dog owner which they are required to comply with and include:
- Ensuring that the dog is registered in accordance with the Act and that all relevant territorial authorities are promptly notified of any change of address or ownership of the dog.
- Ensuring that the dog is kept under control at all times.
- Ensuring that the dog receives proper care and attention and is supplied with proper and sufficient food, water and shelter;
- Ensuring that the dog receives adequate exercise.
- Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not cause a nuisance to any other person, whether by persistent and loud barking or howling or by any other means.
- Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not injure, endanger, intimidate, or otherwise cause distress to any person.
- Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not injure, endanger, or cause distress to any stock, poultry, domestic animal, or protected wildlife.
- Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not damage or endanger any property belonging to any other person.
- Complying with the requirements of the Act and of all regulations and bylaws made under the Act.
Control of Dogs Bylaw 2014
Control of Dogs Bylaw sets the standards of control that must be observed by dog owners. It covers matters such as:
- Dogs in public places
- Wandering dogs
- Ownership of dogs
- Nuisances caused by dogs
Dog Control and Owner Responsibility Policy 2014
Through this policy Council seeks to promote a high standard of dog care and control so that people can enjoy the benefits of dog ownership without adversely affecting other members of the public, and for people of all ages to feel safe in our communities during their interactions with dogs.
Dog owners must keep their dogs on a leash at all times when in a public place, (excluding those locations designated as dog exercise areas or where dogs are specifically prohibited). Dog owners are required to keep their dog under continuous and effective control when in a public place.
Dog Control Act 1996
The Act makes the Council responsible for the control of dogs and makes the annual registration of dogs mandatory. The legislation stipulates that it is an offence to own a dog over the age of 3 months that is not registered.
Animal Welfare Act 1999
This Act ensures that owners of animals and persons in charge of animals attend properly to the welfare of those animals.
Microchipping
Amendments to the Dog Control Act 1996 now require certain dogs to be implanted with a functioning microchip transponder. The intent of the legislation is to provide dogs with a unique number to assist in tracking of dogs classified as dangerous and to protect the interests of society as a whole.
A microchip is a Radio Frequency Identification System and functions very similar to a supermarket bar-code. It has no power source which means that it doesn't transmit a signal, it only responds to a scanner.
There are many dogs already micro-chipped and many exotic or expensive animals are micro-chipped all over the world. The greatest benefit to a dog owner is that if a mirco-chipped dog is lost, stolen, has escaped or strayed it can be easily identified and reunited with the owner.
Dog Required to be Micro-chipped:
There are five different categories of dogs that have to be microchipped:
- Classified Dangerous after 1 December 2003
- Classified Menacing after 1 December 2003
- Registered for the first time after 1 July 2006
- Impounded, Registered for the second time after 1 July 2006
- Impounded, Un-registered after 1 July 2006
Multi Dog Permit
Under the Control of Dogs Bylaw you are now required to apply for a Multi Dog Permit if you have more than 2 dogs
NUMBER OF DOGS AT A RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
- No occupier/s of any property in an residential area (as per Councils District Plan) shall allow or cause to remain or keep on the property, more than two (2) dogs, over the CONTROL OF DOGS BYLAW | Rangitīkei District Council 7 age of three (3) months (whether or not such dogs are registered) unless the occupier has obtained a multi-dog permit from Council.
- A multi-dog permit and fee may be issued upon or subject to such terms, conditions or restrictions as Council may consider necessary and any breach of such terms, conditions or restrictions shall result in revocation of the permit.
- Any person requesting to allow or cause to remain or to keep more than two (2) dogs on any premises as provided in the Bylaw shall apply in writing to Council in such form as may be required by Council for a multi-dog permit. The permit issued is for a three (3) year period.