20 April 2006

Dog attacks and complaints down in Manukau

Manukau City Council’s Dog Policy and Practices Annual Report 2004/05 shows a dramatic decrease in the number of dog attacks, as well as a reduction in dog related complaints received by Council.

The total number of dog attacks on people was 271, down a substantial 26.6% from 370 in the previous year. The total number of dog complaints for the 2004/05 year was 7,760, a 1.4% decrease on 7,874 for the previous year.

The report demonstrates the success of measures introduced as part of Manukau’s Policy on Dogs 2004, which focused on responsible dog ownership. These included registrations blitzes in areas of high complaints, education programmes in schools, information to registered dog owners and to all pet shops and veterinary clinics across Manukau, rewards for dog owners seen demonstrating responsible behaviour in public and an “Early Bird” dog registration competition.

Chairman of Council’s Environmental Management and Urban Design Committee, Councillor Noel Burnside, is pleased with the results:

“The release of Manukau’s Policy on Dogs in 2004 highlighted the need to support responsible owners and to target irresponsible owners. We also realised that Council needed to work together with dog owners and the public to achieve this.

“By targeting owners of unregistered dogs, introducing education programmes for owners, rewarding responsible ownership and raising awareness of the part dogs play in the community, we are beginning to reduce the distress and nuisance from dogs to the general public.”

“I would also like to acknowledge and thank the majority of Manukau’s dog owners who do the right thing,” says Councillor Burnside.

The report, which is required by law, also stated that Council animal management contractors seized 1,020 unregistered dogs from owners, issued 2,378 instant $300 fines to owners who did not register their dog and issued a $750 fine to one dog owner who provided false registration information.

A copy of the report can be viewed on Council’s website www.manukau.govt.nz, at any Manukau City Council library or at Council’s Citizen and Customer Centre, Kotuku House, Osterley Way, Manukau City.

ENDS

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