Council responses to animal management

Recent attacks by dogs in Waiuku and Manukau remind us of how important it is to take care with dogs. There is a responsibility of both dog owners and the general public to understand that the behaviour of dogs can be unpredictable. In the case of the Waiuku attack the dog reportedly had a history with council and was

Council does all within its power to ensure the public is safe around animals, through our Dog Management Bylaw and effective enforcement options. Unfortunately we are too often responding to avoidable incidents by euthanizing animals or prosecuting owners.

Thanks to the work of the animal management team, the dog has been seized and council and police are working with owner to determine suitable consequences. The response to the Waiuku attack was swift, but could have been quicker if the victim’s family, the dog’s owner, or bystanders had contacted council straight away. With a call directly to the Auckland Council 24 hour call centre, animal control officers can be dispatched immediately.

In the past, animal management had been contracted out, but a return to in-house services ensures a consistently high standard of service across Auckland and we enjoy the benefits of having one regional team. These benefits include having highly trained staff that can share their skills and knowledge to improve the experience of both dog owners and non-dog owners and to make dogs a positive part of life in Auckland. Council’s animal management team have done a marvellous job since the change - their hard work across the region is really valuable to keeping our communities safe.

I implore people to make contact with the council directly on 09 301 0101 to report any aggression or incidents immediately.

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