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Auckland Council has been told that the city is grappling with a growing public safety issue as the number of roaming and uncontrolled dogs continues to rise.
At a Regulatory and Safety meeting on April 30, the animal management team stated that reports of roaming dogs have doubled over the past four years, reaching 16,739 in the 2024/25 financial year.
At the same time, dog attacks on people have also doubled to 1341 incidents, figures that authorities believe are still under-reported.
The surge has been linked in part to the Covid-19 pandemic, when desexing services were disrupted and many dogs missed out on early socialisation. Combined with ongoing cost-of-living pressures, officials say the problem has intensified, leading to more aggressive and poorly managed animals in public spaces.
Communities across Auckland report feeling increasingly unsafe, particularly in neighbourhoods where roaming dogs are common. Compounding the issue, only 40 per cent of impounded dogs are known to council, and just 12 per cent of those have been desexed.
Council data shows that more than 10,000 dogs were impounded in the past year, with only 35 per cent reclaimed by their owners. Shelters are operating at or near capacity, limiting the ability of animal management teams to respond effectively.
In response, Council has invested around $10 million into animal management services, expanding shelter capacity, increasing staffing and rolling out a comprehensive action plan.
The plan focuses on community education, stronger compliance enforcement, increased desexing programmes and advocacy for legislative reform.
Staff say community engagement is key, with partnerships formed across iwi groups, schools, housing providers and local organisations to promote responsible dog ownership.
Efforts to control the dog population have seen more than 1500 high-risk dogs desexed through council initiatives, including a dedicated veterinary clinic and partnerships with local vet services.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on central government to update the Dog Control Act 1996, which council leaders argue is outdated and inadequate for addressing today’s challenges. A government review of the legislation was announced in March.
