Policies & Bylaws
The Council aims to provide reasonable policies for dog owners and their pets while promoting a safe and healthy environment for the general public.
The Council reviewed the city’s Dog Control Policy in August 2004, which details Wellington’s major dog control issues and how the Council manages them.
The Council’s priorities for dog control include:
- ensuring owners comply with their legal obligations
- preventing danger caused by dogs
- minimising nuisances caused by dogs
- promoting responsible ownership
- accommodating exercise and recreational needs of dogs and their owners
Bylaws
City bylaws are designed to make the Dog Control Policy effective, and to minimise potential danger and distress caused by dogs.
All the relevant bylaws are detailed in the Policy including:
- Dog owners shall prevent their dogs from becoming a nuisance, injurious or hazardous to health, property or safety of any member of the public. A dog control officer may issue a notice stating conditions that must be met to ensure the nuisance is avoided.
- Owners must restrict diseased dogs or dogs on heat from being in any public place.
- Dog owners shall remove their dog's faeces from any public place or property other than their own.
- Written permission is required to keep more than three dogs on a property.
Dog Control
Under Section 20 of the Dog Control Act 1996, owners are responsible for keeping their dog under control at all times. Failure to comply is an offence with a fine of up to $20,000 or an infringement fee of $300.
This means controlling dogs on private property within physical limits (fencing, kennels, indoors), or by command and on a lead in all public areas.
Dog Care
Under Section 54 of the Dog Control Act 1996, owners must ensure their dog receives proper care and attention. This means adequate food, water, shelter and exercise.
Failure to comply is an offence with a jail term of three months or an infringement fee of $5,000.
Related Links
Department Details:
Animal Control (Building Consents and Licensing Services)
