Dog Control-related Information
Andy Langford made this Official Information request to Dunedin City Council
The request was refused by Dunedin City Council.
From: Andy Langford
Dear Dunedin City Council
Dog Control-related Information
Dear Dunedin City Council,
My preference is to receive the requested information through the fyi.org.nz platform.
1. By FB post on 25 March the Dunedin City Council stated:
“Under the Dog Control Act & Bylaw dogs are only permitted to be let off for a run as long as the dog is under control and can be called back immediately if required.”
(https://www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCoun...)
Please provide the section in the Act and the clause in the Bylaw that specifies that requirement.
2. In various public statements the Dunedin City Council has stated it no longer deals with dog welfare and passes those issues to MPI and the SPCA. Please provide:
(a) All information relating to this decision (for example when, how and why it was made.)
(b) If this involves an agreement or arrangement with MPI and the SPCA, the documentation recording that agreement or arrangement.
(c) The reason dog registration fees have not been reduced to reflect the reduced costs of not performing this function.
3. Item 13 in the agenda for Council meeting on 27 May 2020 is the “Summary of Community Feedback” on the Annual Plan 2020/2021. Paragraph 65 states:
“There were two comments in relation to animal services … . These included detailed feedback on the DCC dog poo bags as well as additional suggestions for incentivising responsible dog ownership. The DCC Responsible Dog Owner* scheme exists to recognise and encourage responsible dog ownership and these owners are given a reduced registration fee to acknowledge their responsible ownership. All dog owners that have de-sexed their dogs are given a $10 reduction in their registration fee. The budget for dog poo bags in 2020/21 is a true reflection of the actual cost of purchasing bags.”
(https://infocouncil.dunedin.govt.nz/Open...)
The submissions making those statements cannot be found in the publicly available information. Could you please provide them.
Yours faithfully,
Andy Langford
Yours faithfully,
Andy Langford
From: Lauren McDonald
Dunedin City Council
Dear Mr Langford
I refer to your e-mail of 23 November 2020 requesting dog control related
information.
We have decided to grant your request, however we are currently preparing
the information for release. We will send you the information by 15
January 2021.
Yours sincerely
Lauren McDonald
Governance Support Officer
CORPORATE SERVICES GROUP
P 03 477 4000 | DD 03 474 3428 | E [1][email address]
Dunedin City Council, 50 The Octagon, Dunedin
PO Box 5045, Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
[2]www.dunedin.govt.nz
[3]DCC Main Page
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From: Andy Langford <[FOI #14181 email]>
Sent: Monday, 23 November 2020 12:53 a.m.
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Dog Control-related Information
Dear Dunedin City Council
Dog Control-related Information
Dear Dunedin City Council,
My preference is to receive the requested information through the
fyi.org.nz platform.
1. By FB post on 25 March the Dunedin City Council stated:
“Under the Dog Control Act & Bylaw dogs are only permitted to be let off
for a run as long as the dog is under control and can be called back
immediately if required.”
([4]https://www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCoun...)
Please provide the section in the Act and the clause in the Bylaw that
specifies that requirement.
2. In various public statements the Dunedin City Council has stated it no
longer deals with dog welfare and passes those issues to MPI and the SPCA.
Please provide:
(a) All information relating to this decision (for example when, how and
why it was made.)
(b) If this involves an agreement or arrangement with MPI and the SPCA,
the documentation recording that agreement or arrangement.
(c) The reason dog registration fees have not been reduced to reflect the
reduced costs of not performing this function.
3. Item 13 in the agenda for Council meeting on 27 May 2020 is the
“Summary of Community Feedback” on the Annual Plan 2020/2021. Paragraph 65
states:
“There were two comments in relation to animal services … . These included
detailed feedback on the DCC dog poo bags as well as additional
suggestions for incentivising responsible dog ownership. The DCC
Responsible Dog Owner* scheme exists to recognise and encourage
responsible dog ownership and these owners are given a reduced
registration fee to acknowledge their responsible ownership. All dog
owners that have de-sexed their dogs are given a $10 reduction in their
registration fee. The budget for dog poo bags in 2020/21 is a true
reflection of the actual cost of purchasing bags.”
([5]https://infocouncil.dunedin.govt.nz/Open...)
The submissions making those statements cannot be found in the publicly
available information. Could you please provide them.
Yours faithfully,
Andy Langford
Yours faithfully,
Andy Langford
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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
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[6][FOI #14181 email]
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/
3. https://au-api.mimecast.com/s/click/V5cK...
4. https://www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCoun...
5. https://infocouncil.dunedin.govt.nz/Open...
6. mailto:[FOI #14181 email]
7. mailto:[Dunedin City Council request email]
8. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
9. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
From: Lauren McDonald
Dunedin City Council
Dear Mr Langford
Following my email of 11 January 2021, please find below our response to
your official information requested of 23 November 2020, our responses is
set out in blue with the original questions, for consistency.
From: Andy Langford
To: Official Information
Subject: Official Information request - Dog Control-related Information
Date: Monday, 23 November 2020 12:52:56 a.m.
Dear Dunedin City Council
Dog Control-related Information
Dear Dunedin City Council,
My preference is to receive the requested information through the
fyi.org.nz platform.
1. By FB post on 25 March the Dunedin City Council stated: “Under the Dog
Control Act & Bylaw dogs are only permitted to be let off for a run as
long as the dog is under control and can be called back immediately if
required.”
([1]https://www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCoun...)
Please provide the section in the Act and the clause in the Bylaw that
specifies that requirement.
This Facebook post was issued during the COVID-19 Lockdown when dog parks
were closed. The sections referring to control of dogs can be found
under section 52(2)(b) of the Dog Control Act 1996
[2]https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...
and section 6.1 and 6.2 of the Dog Control Bylaw.
[3]https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/asset...
2. In various public statements the Dunedin City Council has stated it no
longer deals with dog welfare and passes those issues to MPI and the SPCA.
Please provide:
(a) All information relating to this decision (for example when, how and
why it was made.)
Without examples of specific public statements Council you have indicated
Council has made I am only able to reiterate that the Dunedin CIty Council
is required as a territorial authority to meet the legislation
requirements of the Dog Control Act 1996, and is permitted to make bylaws
regarding the control of dogs in accordance with the process in the local
Government Act 2002. I confirm the Dunedin City Council have a Dog
Control Policy 2016 and the Dog Control Bylaw 2016 in place but that
Council does not hold powers under the Animal Welfare Act.
I advise that under Section 15 of the Dog Control Act, which sets out the
powers of an Dog Control Officer
(see the link)
[4]https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...
If a dog is found not being provided with the necessary food water or
shelter, Council have the following
options:
o Supply the dog with the missing ingredient or seize and remove the dog
if the officer believes the dog won’t be supplied with the food,
shelter or water within 24 hours.
o Council may hold the dog until Dog Control Officers are satisfied that
its needs are met.
Dog Control Officers do not have the authority (under the Dog Control Act)
to seize a dog(s) if it is thought to be malnourished, injured or being
mistreated. That is when the matter is referred to the SPCA, who have
the powers under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to remove the dog(s). The NZ
Police or the Ministry for Primary Industries also have powers under the
Animal Welfare Act and would be referred to where appropriate. I advise
that Council Dog Control officers will always deal with matters related to
a dog without access to proper and sufficient food, water or shelter.
(b) If this involves an agreement or arrangement with MPI and the SPCA,
the documentation recording that agreement or arrangement.
There is no documentation held and is therefore this request is declined
pursuant to section 17 (e) of the Local Government Official Information
and Meetings Act 1987 - that the document alleged to contain the
information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to
locate it, cannot be found.
(c) The reason dog registration fees have not been reduced to reflect the
reduced costs of not performing this function.
The dog registration fees are set to provide a service to both dog owners
and non-dog owners and reflect the reasonable fees prescribed by
resolution (as required under section 37 of the Dog Control Act). The
setting of dog registration fees always take into regard the relative
costs associated with registration and control of dogs and other matters
we consider relevant.
3. Item 13 in the agenda for Council meeting on 27 May 2020 is the
“Summary of Community Feedback” on the Annual Plan 2020/2021. Paragraph 65
states: “There were two comments in relation to animal services … . These
included detailed
feedback on the DCC dog poo bags as well as additional suggestions for
incentivising responsible dog ownership. The DCC Responsible Dog Owner*
scheme exists to recognise and encourage responsible dog ownership and
these owners are given a reduced registration
fee to acknowledge their responsible ownership. All dog owners that have
de-sexed their dogs are given a $10 reduction in their registration fee.
The budget for dog poo bags in 2020/21 is a true reflection of the actual
cost of purchasing bags.”
([5]https://infocouncil.dunedin.govt.nz/Open...).
The submissions making those statements cannot be found in the publicly
available information. Could you please provide them.
Both submissions are publicly available via the link below. Please note
that submissions are not published by topic.
[6]https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/annu...
As part of your request has been declined, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at
[7]https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/get-...
Yours sincerely
Lauren McDonald
Governance Support Officer
CORPORATE SERVICES GROUP
P 03 477 4000 | DD 03 474 3428 | E [8][email address]
Dunedin City Council, 50 The Octagon, Dunedin
PO Box 5045, Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
[9]www.dunedin.govt.nz
[10]DCC Main Page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this message is not intended for you please delete it and notify us
immediately; you are warned that any further use, dissemination,
distribution or reproduction of this material by you is prohibited..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCoun...
2. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...
3. https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/asset...
4. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...
5. https://infocouncil.dunedin.govt.nz/Open...
6. https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/annu...
7. https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/get-...
8. mailto:[email address]
9. http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/
10. https://au-api.mimecast.com/s/click/EECH...
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