Since March 2020, Auckland Council has concluded over 611 prosecutions under the Dog Control Act, targeting owners whose dogs have seriously injured people or other animals.
And the message is clear – if your dog bites, mauls, or attacks, you will be held to account.
The majority of these cases have been successful, reflecting thorough investigations, decisive legal action, and an unwavering commitment to public safety.
In the 2024-2025 financial year alone, nearly 3,000 dog attacks and over 15,000 cases of roaming dogs were reported in Auckland.
The increase from 2020 when just under 2,000 were logged, is attributed to a surge in dog ownership following COVID-19 lockdowns, a decline in desexing, and a growing number of unregistered and untrained animals. Behind every statistic is a victim – often a child – left with severe injuries and lifelong trauma.
Latest case a stark warning
The council’s firm stance was underlined in the Auckland District Court recently, when a dog owner was sentenced after her rottweiler attacked and seriously injured a passer-by in New Lynn in October 2023. The victim, who had stepped aside to let the dog and handler pass, suffered a 10–15cm wound to her arm that required surgery.
At the time, the dog was under the control of the dog owner’s 15-year-old son. Despite the dog owner’s guilty plea and her assistance to the victim immediately after the attack, the Court refused the dog owner’s application for a discharge without conviction, citing the severity of the injuries, and the hospitalisation.
The dog owner was sentenced to 70 hours of community service and ordered to pay $500 in reparation. The rottweiler was euthanised four days after the attack at the owners’ request.
Zero tolerance for preventable harm
Head of Prosecutions John Kang says the Council has no hesitation prosecuting owners whose dogs attack, particularly given the serious injuries involved.
“Some of these injuries are gruesome. They leave physical and psychological scars,” he says.
“What’s worse is that many of these incidents are entirely preventable – they often happen when owners fail to control their dogs or turn a blind eye to aggressive behaviour. We will continue to prosecute where criminal action is justified under the Solicitor-General’s Prosecution Guidelines.”
Robert Irvine, Auckland Council’s General Manager, Licensing and Compliance, says the case reflects a disturbing trend.
“Too many dog owners are failing to take responsibility. We are seeing a rise in serious attacks, and its clear many owners don’t care, or don’t believe they’ll be held responsible.
“Let us be clear: they will. Owning a dog comes with a duty to ensure the safety of the community. If you can’t meet that duty, you shouldn’t own a dog.”
Owners on notice
The council urges all dog owners to register and desex their dogs, take active steps to control them and keep them contained at all times. Education, community engagement and early intervention remain key priorities but when these fail, prosecution will follow.
“This case should send a clear message,” Mr Irvine says.
“Dog attacks will be taken seriously, and prior offending will be taken into account. We will not hesitate to take strong action to protect Aucklanders.”
