Dog owners whose pets poop on beaches and other public places could face up to a $300 fine if they don't pick it up.

That's in a bylaw being considered by the Auckland Council's regulatory and bylaws committee.

It's also standardising times dogs are allowed on beaches and public places, particularly in summer.

Dogs will be banned on beaches in summer 2013 from the Saturday of Labour Weekend to March 1 from 10am to 5pm under the proposals, Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member Greg Sayers says.

Currently, dogs are prohibited from many Auckland beaches from 9am till 7pm from the first Sunday in October until the third Saturday in March.

For this summer, the current local times when dogs are prohibited from beaches continue to apply.

"This decision will allow dog owners greater access to our beaches when they are not heavily used by holiday makers.

"Waiheke Island's beaches were the only beaches to receive an exemption from the Auckland-wide rule.

"There is still a problem of where dog owners can exercise their dogs over summer," Mr Sayers says.

"The new bylaw may include the ability for the local board to designate areas open to dog owners all year round.

"However, such a decision would again require the public to have heavy input and the regulatory committee is yet to decide on this."

Deliberations on the proposal are due to finish tomorrow.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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