Dog Control Act to go under microscope after deaths and Northland outcry

The Government has ordered a comprehensive review of the Dog Control Act. Photo / 123rf

A review of the 30-year-old Dog Control Act is being hailed in Northland as “long overdue”.

The Government announced a comprehensive review of the 1996 Act on Saturday in a bid to crack down on roaming and uncontrolled dogs.

It follows an outcry in Northland from politicians, animal welfare advocates, dog owners and ratepayers.

Northland MP Grant McCallum welcomed the review, saying it was “long overdue”.

He said it was “so unacceptable it’s beyond comprehension” that three of the past four fatal attacks were in Northland.

He was worried by the reputation Northland had gained.

“We don’t want a reputation to strike where people don’t feel safe coming up here as tourists.”

He believed the review would look at whether penalties, which were set in the 1990s, were tough enough.

Dog owners needed to take responsibility for their animals, but laws needed to allow councils to work to the “fullest extent”, McCallum said.

“We need to clarify the rights of the dog control people so they then have got the ability to remove dangerous dogs.”

Northland MP Grant McCallum felt the review of the Dog Control Act was overdue. Photo / NZME

McCallum agreed responsible owners should not be unfairly impacted.

Registering and microchipping would place them in good stead, he said.

McCallum also pointed to Thursday’s announcement that more than $1.2m would be invested into desexing in Northland and Auckland, by the SPCA and central Government.

Bay of Islands Watchdogs’ Leonie Exel was “delighted” to hear the Act was being reviewed.

Exel wrote a letter to Local Government Minister Simon Watts after Kaihū woman Mihiata Te Rore was killed.

Her suggestions included a review of the Act.

“It’s just one step among many that’s needed,” she said.

A small percentage of dog owners were causing serious problems, so change needed to be targeted and collaborative, she said.

“This is possible, as long as we have the goodwill of everybody.”

Rehette Stoltz, Gisborne mayor and Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) president, said councils had told LGNZ an overhaul of the Act would have the greatest impact, and that they required stronger, proactive powers.

“One council we spoke to was preparing to prosecute the owners of two dogs, but couldn’t legally hold the animals in the meantime,” Stoltz said.

“One of those dogs then went on to attack someone. Changes need to prevent instances like this happening again.”

Stoltz said LGNZ was pleased to see stronger police support for animal control officers in high-risk situations, and updated enforcement guidelines for police.

Saturday’s announcement also highlighted how the Department of Conservation would step up monitoring of high-risk areas and its professional hunter response on public conservation land.

It would focus on places where dogs were high risk to people or native wildlife, and DoC would work closely with councils, iwi, landowners and communities.

At a local government level, Watts said he had sent a letter to all councils setting out his expectations while the Act was reviewed.

“I want councils to be able to confidently say they are using every power available to tackle this issue.”

Minister of Local Government Simon Watts. Photo / NZME

Watts said he heard “clearly” from LGNZ and councils that the Act was outdated and preventing them from doing their jobs effectively.

The scope of the review was still being considered.

It would include looking at barriers or resource pressure on councils, penalties for non-compliant dog owners, desexing obligations, and stronger powers for council officers.

Enforcement guidelines had also been updated, so animal officers had clarity on how they should respond and what tools were available, he said.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.