Numbers of roaming dogs and dog attacks in Auckland have fallen for the first time in years, suggesting Auckland Council’s significant investment in proactive dog control efforts is paying off. Despite positive signs, the council says there is a long way to go before communities are safe from dog-related harm.
Released today, the Animal Management Annual Report FY25/26 shows encouraging improvements across almost all key measures. Reported dog attacks fell five per cent, roaming dog complaints dropped 25 per cent, dog impoundments decreased six per cent, and the number of dogs euthanised fell 10.5 per cent.
The declines mark the first reduction in dog attacks since 2019/20 and the first reduction in roaming dog complaints since 2020/21.
Auckland Council’s Head of Animal Management Elly Waitoa says the results reflect significant efforts by Animal Management to prevent dog-related harm before it occurs.
"Over the past two years we've significantly increased proactive patrols, community education, engagement programmes and compliance action against irresponsible owners. We knew it would take time, but we’re starting to see early signs of that work having an effect.”
Requests for Animal Management services were down 18 per cent compared with the previous year, reflecting the team's increased proactive patrols in high-risk communities. Officers carried out more than 13,600 proactive activities over the year (a 66 per cent increase on the previous year), including patrols, inspections and targeted compliance work.
“The reversal in trends is a credit to the efforts of our Animal Management teams, whose visible presence in communities is helping to address issues before they escalate,” says Ms Waitoa.
The council has also focused on reducing the large number of unwanted dogs and puppies, with more than 1,700 dogs desexed through the council’s dedicated free desexing clinic. The clinic is the only one of its kind offered by a council in New Zealand and includes a free pick-up and drop-off service to reduce barriers for owners. In addition, more than 300 dogs were desexed through the council’s voucher partnership with the SPCA.
Despite these improvements, the scale of Auckland's dog control challenge remains significant.
Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Cr Josephine Bartley, says while most dog owners were responsible, there were far too many whose behaviour put their communities and other animals at risk.
"More than 12,000 roaming dog complaints were reported during the year and Animal Management still investigated more than 2,700 dog attacks. Behind those numbers are some horrific injuries, many of them on children that will leave lifelong scars.
"Our Animal Management teams are doing everything they can to get on top of this problem, but without dog owners taking more responsibility they are facing an uphill battle. We need more people to desex their dogs and stop their dogs from roaming.”
Ms Waitoa says the council is also continuing to advocate for reforms to the Dog Control Act 1996.
"Recent fatal dog attacks elsewhere in New Zealand have highlighted the urgency of strengthening our 30-year-old dog control laws.
“We have been pushing hard for the changes that are desperately needed to give councils better tools to more effectively manage irresponsible dog ownership. We are pleased the government has agreed to a review of this legislation are are assisting to ensure any proposed changes are effective.”