Animal management rules in Auckland is being reviewed, including a change to limit the number of dogs one person may walk. Photo: STUFF
A dog walkers' group have raised concerns over the proposal to change Auckland's dog management rules to limit the number of dogs one person can walk.
Auckland Council is reviewing the Kaupapa mo ngā Kurī | Policy on Dogs 2019 and Ture a Rohe Tiakina Kurī | Dog Management Bylaw 2019 with a final decision in 2025.
The Professional Dog Walkers Association raised their concerns at the Franklin Local Board meeting on Tuesday, specifically on the proposal to limit the number of dogs one person may walk both on and off-leash.
"The first issue that we would like to make you aware of is the lack of information and evidence that there is an issue in the Auckland area with this," Ben Spick said.
"Council data presented to you showed only 0.7 percent of all complaints last year are related to walking multiple dogs."
That in terms of actual numbers comes to about 10, he said.
"Which is a completely insignificant number when you consider the 38 percent of all complaints related to roaming dogs.
"And that number was increasing 50 percent from the year before."
He said the real issue for Animal Management and Auckland was roaming dogs, "not those out there walking and exercising dogs".
Spick said the effect of the proposal to limit dogs being walked would impact local residents.
"We know that the majority of complaints are around roaming and barking, and research from the SPCA shows that in 2018 only 30 percent of dog owners were walking their dogs daily.
"So professional dog walkers or dog walkers who walk multiple dogs provide a valuable service to your residents in your local constituency who need to commute long distances in order to work.
"It allows them to go to work safely knowing their dogs are well exercised."
Other key draft changes was the amendment or clarification on dog access rules in 14 regional parks, and clarity on some existing rules in the Policy and Bylaw.
"Placing a limit on walking multiple dogs would remove a large majority of professional dog walkers in the Auckland region.
"... or increase their prices massively in order to service a fewer number of residents, making the service basically prohibited to most people."
The Franklin Local Board and other Auckland boards, with public feedback, would provide its views on the draft proposed change.
The Regulatory and Safety Committee will consider the local board views in December and recommend a proposal to the Governing Body.
Public consultation on the proposal is scheduled for early 2025, deliberations in June and final Governing Body decision in July.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.