All dogs within the District must be kept under effective control at all times, be registered and be properly cared for.
Dogs must be kept on a leash in, or adjacent to, all urban areas and also in the presence of protected wildlife.
Dogs may run free in Dog Exercise Areas but must still be under the effective control of whoever is in charge of them. There are specific areas where dogs are prohibited for part or all of the year. Check the Dog Exercise Map.
If your pet has gone missing and you are unsure where to start looking, or if you have found a stray animal and are unsure what to do with it, please contact the Council immediately.
We will need an accurate description of the animal you have lost or found:
And contact details for yourself in case the animal is reported after you have called.
You should also contact the SPCA on 03 547 7171 and locals vets.
You have seven days to claim your dog from our pound. If a dog is not claimed by its owner then Tasman District Council takes responsibility for the dog.
Any dog impounded on a second occasion must be microchipped before its release.
Any unregistered dog that has been impounded must be registered and microchipped before its release.
From time to time dogs re available for rehoming, and those deemed suitable are neutered/spayed and microchipped.
Dogs often bark when they are excited such as when you are playing with them or when they are about to go out for a walk. This type of barking simply shows your dog is happy and will generally stop once the exciting activity ceases. The nuisance of noise such as a dog’s excessive barking is perceptual – what is excessive to one person may not be to another. Under the Dog Control Act 1996, to classify dog barking as a nuisance, each case must be investigated by an Animal Control Officer.
If you are being annoyed by the persistent and loud barking or howling of a dog, you should report the dog to Animal Control by calling the Council's 24 hour line (03) 543 8400.
Once a complaint is made, we will ask you to provide details noting the date, time and length of each noise incident. We will need to identify the type of howling or barking heard, to establish if the animal is distressed or a nuisance.
With the information the complainant provides, we may:
If there is no improvement after Animal Control’s investigation, and more issues are reported against the same dog, the Council will move to the next step to try to resolve the problem.
Dogs are descended from the wolf and they sometimes show behavioural traits we associate with wild animals. Dogs may bite when they are frightened, injured, threatened or when they attempt to be dominant or territorial. Usually, biting is a result of poor training and socialisation, or the owner's lack of control over the dog.
Biting is not acceptable behaviour and can result in serious consequences for the dog, its owner and the victim.
Under the Dog Control Act 1996, dogs responsible for attacks on people or other animals can be seized and/or destroyed. The dog owner can be charged with an offence under the Act and may be liable on summary conviction to a fine. In addition, the owner is also liable for any damages caused by the dog. The dog may be classified as either Menacing or Dangerous and must comply with the obligations of these classifications, and in a worst-case scenario, may be destroyed.
If you have been a victim of, witness to or are the owner of an aggressive or dangerous dog, or a dog that has attacked, you should advise Animal Control of any incident as soon as it occurs by calling Council on 03 543 8400. This number may be called 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
You will be asked for the following details:
The names and addresses of the dog owner and any witnesses should be obtained. If the dog owner leaves the incident without supplying these details, you should note their appearance and vehicle registration number.
The address of the offending dog is important for an Animal Control Officer to make contact. If the owner is not present, the offending dog should be followed to obtain its home address. Follow the dog with a reasonable distance between you – do not chase or call it.
All details, medical reports and marked clothing from the attack should be kept as evidence to build a case against the owner.
Some dog breeds are classified by the Government as "menacing" or "dangerous" dogs.
Find out more about the Government Classification of Menacing Dogs (pdf, 392 KB)
This bylaw includes requirements for the control of dogs in public places. There are maps indicating prohibited areas, leash control areas and dog exercise areas.
The bylaw points out the requirement to remove dog faeces and places limitations on the number of dogs that can be kept.
The bylaw is due for review within ten years.
Please note that a separate bylaw governs the Abel Tasman Foreshore Scenic Reserve, and dogs are prohibited - with a very few exceptions.
View section 9 of the bylaw on the DOC website for full details.
