24 August 2004

Dog bites decrease

Reports of dogs biting people in Auckland city are down 48 per cent for the 2003/2004 registration year, with 138 incidents reported compared to 268 for the previous year.

The chairperson of Auckland City Council’s City Development Committee, Councillor Juliet Yates, says the fall of 130 in biting incidents is significant.

“Dog control officers have taken a vigilant approach to enforcement during the past year, especially with dogs wandering the street and unregistered dogs. This has clearly paid off,” says Mrs Yates.

During the 2003/2004 registration year, Auckland City has received and actioned 8,906 complaints – a 23 per cent decrease from the previous registration year.

Over half the infringements issued were for unregistered dogs.

“Officers also try to assist dog owners, educating them on Auckland City’s dog policy and offering responsible dog owner training. Dog officers visit 100 schools each year advising children on how to act when they are around dogs.

“The effects of council enforcement are probably greater than this as there are also unreported dog bites, which may be less severe and these will also be reduced,” she says.

Aggression related complaints for the 2003/2004 year (from 1 June until 30 July) totalled 629, compared to 1,032 for the previous year – a 39 per cent decrease. Aggression related complaints include a dog biting another dog, dog biting a person, dog biting a cat, dog challenging a person and dogs biting stock.

Auckland City’s reviewed dog policy comes before the council for adoption this Thursday 26 August.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

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