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The Clutha District Council has about 7,300 dogs in the area and most of their owners are responsible, and will register, care for, exercise and train their dogs.

A dog is supposed to be man's best friend and this country is a nation of animal lovers. Unfortunately dogs can also be a nuisance if not properly controlled, and some owners are not as responsible about their pets as they should be.

Council has adopted Bylaws for the control of dogs in Public Places.

Nuisance arises from 3 main causes:

• Fouling

• Straying

• Noise

Fouling

A person in charge of any dog shall not allow the dog to foul in a public place without the immediate removal of the faecal material.

When you take your dog out you should always have a suitable plastic bag in your pocket. If the dog defecates in a place where you are required to clean it up, or anywhere it is likely to be a nuisance to other people, you should put your hand inside the bag, pick up the faeces, then turn the bag inside out and tie the top and dispose of it in a suitable place. At the earliest opportunity you should wash your hands.

Straying

When dogs stray they can be a serious hazard. They may attack people, other dogs or livestock. A major problem with straying dogs is the danger they cause to road traffic. Many accidents and injuries are caused by dogs , who have no road sense, and drivers reactions are sometimes not quick enough to avoid an accident. This can result in a severely injured or dead dog,  substantial damage to the vehicle, as well as the occupants of the vehicle and other road users or pedestrians.

They are also a nuisance to other properties by fouling, digging in gardens and scavenging other pets food. Make sure your dog is confined to your property as impounding fees can have an impact on any household budget. Your dog should always wear the current registration tag, because it makes it easier to re-unite the dog back to its family.

Noise

We all expect dogs to bark, especially if somebody comes to the property (his domain). However, if dogs bark for prolonged periods they may cause considerable disturbance to neighbours. If a dogs barking is sufficient to be an unreasonable intrusion into somebody else’s enjoyment of their property - e.g. by keeping them awake - then that is a nuisance and the Council can serve a notice on the person responsible, requiring that nuisance to be abated. Dogs tend to bark for prolonged periods if they are bored when left alone. There are various ways of encouraging dogs to stop barking and our Animal Control Officers will be happy to give advice.

General

It is important that dog owners or people who are thinking about purchasing a new dog are aware of their responsibilities under the Dog Control Act 1996 and the Council's 1997 Bylaw.

Adequate fencing of a property is essential if a dog is contemplated as a pet- as is time to devote to the welfare and exercise of your dog. Size of a dog can be important as the bigger the dog, the more energy and time is spent on his wellbeing and needs. Choose carefully, and remember that in a few months that cuddly bundle will grow to a four legged, clumsy, furniture and anything laying about, chewing machine. This would be a good time to mention that Dog Obedience Clubs have courses where your dog can be socialised, and taught the correct and accepted way to behave. The courses are designed to teach you how to train your pet, with hands on training for the dog, reinforced by the knowledge that you have.

OBLIGATIONS OF DOG OWNERS

• All dogs must be registered with their Local Authority before attaining the age of three months.

• Legally any person in charge of a dog is deemed to be the owner.

• Dogs must be kept under control at all times. When on a road they must be restrained by the use of a lead held by a person capable of controlling the dog.

• Every person in charge of a dog that fouls is responsible for the immediate removal of the faeces.

• In the Clutha District area, a licence is required to keep more than two dogs on a property, regardless of the number of owners.

• All dog owners must take reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not cause a nuisance by persistent and loud barking or howling to any other person .

• Dogs are not allowed in a prohibited area at any time:

  • Areas laid out and equipped as childrens' playgrounds

  • The designated playing area of all sports grounds

  • All school grounds

  • All swimming pools

  • Any premises used for the manufacture, preparation, storage, or the sale of food

  • Designated areas of bathing beaches during periods when daylight saving is in force

  • Clyde Street, Balclutha between the intersections of Renfrew and Gordon Streets

  • This prohibition does not apply to Guide dogs for the blind, Hearing ear dogs, police dogs, dogs being used by security guards or dogs confined in an efficient container, or securely confined in or by lead or restraint on a vehicle nor does it apply to organised events authorised by Council

• Dogs riding on motor vehicles must be attached by a lead or chain short enough to prevent the dog from falling off or attacking persons passing by.

• It is an offence to have a dog known to have an infectious disease or to be in season in a public place.

• All owners must ensure their dog receives adequate exercise appropriate to their age size and breed.

• All dogs must be well fed and clean fresh water must be available at all times.

• If outside, a warm weatherproof shelter must be provided for all dogs.

DOG REGISTRATION

Council wishes to remind all dog owners that dog registration will be coming up again in July. Registrations for this year expire on 30 June and all dogs must be re-registered by 31 July. Any dog owners who have moved, or whose dogs have died or left the district are also reminded to contact Council so your records can be updated.

There also seems to have been some confusion created around the microchipping of dogs, with some people under the impression that if a dog is microchipped, it doesn’t need to be registered. This is not the case. All dogs over the age of three months must still be registered with Council.

While Council is not actively the enforcing the microchipping of dogs at present (except unregistered impounded and menacing/dangerous dogs), most other councils are, and dog owners are reminded of the requirement of dogs registered after 1 July 2006 to be microchipped. Quite a few dog owners have been caught out when they have moved to another district and have been required to microchip their dog.

Fees if paid ....

Please see our current Fees and Charges for this information. Please note that the following definitions apply to Dog Registrations.

Rural Owners

Owners who live in a rural area as defined in the District Plan

Urban Owners

Owner who lives in an Urban, Industrial, Transitional or Rural Settlement area as defined by the District Plan.

Guide Dogs

A guide dog that is registered with the Guide Dog Foundation. Dogs that are required to be registered part way through the year ( e.g. new puppies) are charged at a Pro Rata rate of the applicable fee for a full year. 

MULTIPLE DOG LICENCE

Pursuant to Clause 10 (Limitation on number of dogs) of the Bylaw "No more than 2 dogs of registerable age (whether or not such dogs are registered) may be kept on any premises situated in the urban industrial or rural settlement resource areas as defined by the Clutha District Plan unless the owner or occupier is the holder of a licence to keep more than two dogs".

Every application for a licence shall be made in writing to Council and be accompanied by the appropriate fee, and

a) shall be subject to such conditions as Council sees fit to impose, and

b) shall have effect only in relation to the premises described on the licence, and

c) shall not be transferable to any other premises or person.

To obtain an application form please email us.

Conditions relating to the issuing of a licence

The keeping of more than two dogs by the occupier of any property is subject to the following conditions:

1. The number of dogs on the premises shall NOT exceed the number permitted as indicated on the licence.

2. All dogs kept on the premises must be housed in such a manner as not to cause nuisance to neighbours.

3. Kennels, runs and other areas on the property used by the dogs must be kept clean and free from nuisance conditions.

4. All requirements of the Dog Control Act 1996 and the Clutha District Dog Control Bylaw must be met.

5. The licence specifically precludes housing or breeding of dogs as a commercial enterprise unless Resource Consent has been granted under the Clutha District Plan.

6. All deaths, sales or transfers of dogs, (including pups born on the premises) are to be notified to Council within 14 days.

7. Prior application shall be made to Council before any changes are undertaken that affect the terms and conditions under which the licence is issued.

8. No change of dog breeds is permitted without prior Council approval.

9. A licence may be subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as Council may from time to time consider necessary to impose.

10. A licence may be revoked if there is any breach of its terms and conditions.

11. Licences are not transferable between occupiers or between premises.