How many dogs can live on one property without driving the neighbours barking mad? Should man’s best friends have their own special places to exercise where they can run without being called to heel?

These are just some of the questions the Queenstown Lakes District Council is asking residents as is ponders whether the district needs a new Dog Control Bylaw. Regulatory Manager Lee Webster said the answers would be used to help Councillors decide whether to develop a new bylaw and, if so, what it should cover.

“The Dog Control Act gives the Council a lot of choices in how it regulates dog ownership and behaviour, but there are four areas that we think are particular relevant to our district,” he said.

The first is whether or not dogs should continue to be banned from specific public places, such as the Queenstown mall and school playgrounds. The second is whether dogs should have to remain on a leash in specified places, such as the rural trails.

The third is whether there should continue to be a limit on the number of dogs that can be kept at one residential address and if so, how many should be allowed as of right. At present people need a Council permit to have more than two dogs at one property.

The final question is whether there’s a need for any land to be set aside as dog exercise areas. There are no dog parks in the Queenstown Lakes District at present.

Mr Webster said the responses to the survey would be added to information the Council already held, including the number of dog-related complaints, to help the Councillors decide whether a bylaw was needed.

The link to the survey is on the homepage of the Council’s website www.qldc.govt.nz and will close on 14 February.

By: QLDC