Tough dog bylaw on the way

Striking a balance between the recreational needs of dogs and public safety is the aim of a new Dog Control Bylaw likely to be adopted by the Far North District Council.

The council's Regulatory Services Committee voted last week to recommend that the council adopt an amended draft bylaw it publicly notified in April. Under the bylaw, the council will:
Restrict the number of dogs that people in built-up areas can own by requiring them to obtain a permit if they have two or more dogs;

Require dog owners to confine their dogs to their properties and, in some cases, require owners to fence their properties if the council impounds their dogs on three or more occasions;

Increase the number of public areas in the district where dogs are prohibited (these areas include children's playgrounds, some beaches and reserves);

Require dogs, in some instances, to be neutered when it has impounded them on three or more occasions;

Limit the length of leashes that dog owners use to restrain their dogs in public areas to two metres and require owners to keep their dogs in sight and within 10 metres in off-leash areas;

Make it an offence for a person to leave a dog tethered but unattended in a public place regardless of whether it is muzzled. MORE

and so... more laws will create safer communities !%!%.. in the middle of no where,at that!