In a move to tackle problems with roaming and uncontrolled dogs in the region, Auckland Council is calling on central government to grant councils stronger powers under the Dog Control Act 1996.
At a meeting of the council’s Regulatory and Safety Committee today, General Manager of Licensing and Compliance, Robert Irvine, outlined key legislative changes that would give the council more tools to manage dog-related issues.
The proposed changes include measures such as introducing fencing requirements for dog owners, allowing councils to set their own desexing policies, and improving councils’ abilities to detain dogs following an attack.
“The council is doing everything it can to tackle this issue from multiple angles, but without legislative reform we are always going to be limited,” says Mr Irvine.
“The changes we are proposing make good common sense and would greatly improve our ability to protect Aucklanders from dog-related harm. They would not affect the majority of dog owners who we know are responsible.”
Video: view more comments from Robert Irvine on Youtube.
In the past year, the council’s Animal Management unit received 16,739 reports of roaming dogs, 1,341 reports of dog attacks on people and 1,523 reports of attacks on other animals. ACC claim data shows that the actual number of dog attacks is much higher, which is why the council will also be pushing for mandatory reporting of attacks from hospitals and medical centres.
“Most serious dog attacks on children happen in the family home and go unreported to the council, meaning we have no ability to investigate. Introducing mandatory reporting would allow us to intervene and put measures in place to prevent attacks from happening again,” says Mr Irvine.
Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Cr Josephine Bartley, says she is fully in support of the proposed changes.
“Most dog owners in Auckland are responsible and do the right thing, but there is a group that just doesn’t seem to care. Their actions are putting our communities at risk, particularly our tamariki, so having stricter rules around things like fencing and desexing has become necessary.”
No quick fix
Keeping Aucklanders safe from the risks posed by roaming and uncontrolled dogs is a priority for the council, which has invested $5.9 million in additional funding to support Animal Management through its most recent Long-term Plan.
This has allowed for the creation of 54 additional roles, allowing for more proactive patrolling of high-risk areas and increased community engagement and education.
Other key initiatives include targeted free desexing and registration drives, public awareness and education campaigns, a new Pukekohe Adoption and Education centre and increased kennel capacity at shelters to hold dangerous and roaming dogs.
“There is no quick fix to solving this issue. We are already using every tool at our disposal to bring Auckland’s dog issues under control, and working alongside government on much-needed law reform is the next step in our plan,” says Mr Irvine.
The council’s is seeking change across three categories:
Keeping people safe
- Improve the powers to detain a dog after an attack
- Reduce the number of dangerous and menacing dogs
- Improve controls on dangerous dogs
- Improve the prosecution process
- Provide councils the ability to set fencing standards and enforcement
- Require mandatory reporting of attacks to Animal Management.
Getting tougher on irresponsible owners
- Enable councils to set an infringement schedule relevant to the issues in their area
- Improve enforcement powers against dog owners for non-payment of registration
- Improve powers of Animal Management Officers.
Controlling the dog population
- Allow councils to set a policy on mandatory desexing
- Desexing of impounded dogs before they are released back to the owner
- Reduce holding days in shelters from seven to five days.
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