Draft Dog Control Policy 2024

We recently reviewed our Dog Control Policy to ensure it's fit for purpose and meets community needs and expectations.

You told us that you were generally happy with the controls we have for dogs, so we’ve kept most things the same with a few key changes.

A new Dog Control Policy 2024 and Dog Control Bylaw 2024 come into effect on 1 September.

This policy guides the rules around keeping dogs 

There are more than 9,000 dogs in Palmerston North. The policy outlines the obligations and responsibilities of dog owners. It also specifies where you can and can't walk your dog, where dogs must be on a leash, and where they can be free. It defines these areas as:

• dog prohibited areas, where dogs are not allowed at all
• on-leash areas, where dogs must be on a lead
• dog exercise areas, where dogs can run free without a lead as long as they are still under control.

We're proposing a few changes to our Dog Control Policy

Some of the proposed changes are minor. Others are more significant. They’re outlined below, and you can find more detailed information in the Statement of Proposal.

Statement of Proposal: Draft Dog Control Policy 2024(PDF, 665KB)

We’re proposing to add conditions for dogs classified as menacing

This will mean dogs classified as menacing are not allowed in any public place unless they are confined in a vehicle or cage, or muzzled in a manner the prevents them from biting but allows them to breathe and to drink without obstruction.  

We’re proposing to add conditions for dogs classified as dangerous

This means dogs classified as dangerous must be securely fenced on their owner’s property, and people must be able to enter the house or dwelling without going into the area where the dog is secured.

It also means dogs classified as dangerous are not allowed in any public place unless they’re confined in a vehicle or cage, or muzzled in a manner the prevents them from biting but allows them to breathe and to drink without obstruction. 

We’re proposing to change the wording around barking dogs

We are proposing to align the wording in our policy with the wording in the legislation. This will help our animal management team to respond to complaints of barking dogs effectively and efficiently. 

We’re proposing to add a clause for prohibited public places

The clause means that we will engage with the community if we intend to make public places that would usually be prohibited to dogs, dog on-leash areas.

We’re proposing to add a clause for temporary areas of control

Occasionally we may have reason to change the control for dogs in certain areas. The proposed clause outlines how we will let you know that a temporary change is being made. 

We’re proposing a small change to how we assess our Preferred Owner Scheme

The proposed change will mean that owners who are applying to become preferred owners will need to demonstrate that in an emergency, the needs of their dogs will still be met. 

We’re proposing to change the wording around the requirements for housing dogs

We’re making this change to align our policy more closely with the Code of Welfare for Dogs, particularly the minimum standards for kennelling and shelter.