Animal Management is responsible for carrying out Auckland Council’s obligations under the Dog Control Act. The council operates to ensure that dogs and other animals (mostly stock, but may include pigs, horses, etc.) are controlled and prevented from harming the public or public amenity. The animal management team is responsible for:
- Dog registration
- Educating the public on dog control and animal management
- Dog access to public places
- Dog bite prevention through the classification and monitoring of menacing and dangerous dogs
- Complaints relating to aggression, roaming and barking
- Shelters - lost and found, adoption and microchipping.
Quick facts for 2024-2025
- At the end of June 2025, Auckland’s known dog population was 131,123. Of these, 88.4 per cent were registered.
- In FY24/25 Animal Management teams responded to 39,374 service requests — an increase of 4.8 per cent.
- Animal Management impounded a record 10,214 dogs across Auckland’s three shelters.
- The council received 16,739 reports of roaming dogs.
- Animal Management officers investigated 2864 dog attacks on people and other animals, and 3852 reports of dogs behaving aggressively.
- 134 new prosecutions were initiated against dog owners in the District Court for serious offences against the Dog Control Act.
- Field officers issued 17,430 infringement notices for offences against the Dog Control Act 1996.
Read more in the Animal Management Annual Report 2024-2025
Quotes
- Contact the Auckland Council media team or a communication partner for comment.
Links
Animal management annual reports and the policy on dogs
Opinion - Auckland has a dog problem and my staff are left cleaning up the mess (Feb 2024)
