11 September 2017

Talking about the birds and bees (and cats and livestock)

If you love your pet, enjoy walking your llama to the dairy, or want to be a beekeeper – then we want to hear from you.

Consultation is now open on Wellington City Council’s Draft Animal Policy and factsheets. The Council’s Natural Environment Portfolio Leader, Councillor Peter Gilberd, says after the Animal Bylaw review last year, creating an animal policy was the next step.

“The policy will support the bylaw, as opposed to adding any regulatory requirements.

“We want to encourage Wellingtonians to look after their animals responsibly and we would also like to provide some guidance and information on animal management, care, and responsibilities.

“We stayed in touch with the stakeholders we worked with on the Animal Bylaw and have been meeting with them, and new interest groups, since the Animal Policy scope was approved at the City Strategy Committee meeting in March.

“These stakeholders have given us information and advice on common practice, best practice, and areas they thought could be better clarified.

“Through discussions the idea came up to develop several factsheets as best-practice guides. We want to better support people who are considering getting an animal with useful, relevant information, as well as having that information available for people who already have pets.

“One of the factsheets is about keeping bees, which is timely given September is Bee Aware month. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating our crops to create food sources for both people and animals.

“The factsheets are a base for us to work from. Now, we want to cast the net wider and get input from more people.”

Information will be available online at wellington.govt.nz/draftanimalpolicy and at city libraries and the Council’s Service Centre at 101 Wakefield Street.

You can also attend one of three drop-in sessions to talk with staff and look at the policy and factsheets:

• 12 noon-2pm, Monday 18 September, Committee Room 2, Wellington City Council, 101 Wakefield Street

• 1pm-3pm, Sunday 24 September, Wellington SPCA, 140 Alexandra Road, Newtown

• 12 noon-2pm, Wednesday 27 September, Committee Room 2, Wellington City Council, 101 Wakefield Street.

A final report on the Draft Animal Policy will be considered by the Council's City Strategy Committee in early December, with the Council making a decision later that month.

ends

© Scoop Media