- By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter
Funded by New Zealand on Air
Across the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of dog owners’ classifications from Auckland Council has steadily risen with recent figures approaching the 100 mark.
In 2017 the number of classified owners sat at 22 but in this year’s annual management report council showed 96 owners were classified.
Classified dog owners fall under two categories: disqualified owners who are unable to own a dog for up to five years and probationary owners who have to go through an education programme.
While probationary owners make up the bulk of classifications, disqualified owners have risen from 1 in 2017 to 23 this year and 13 new disqualifications in just the last year.
Animal Management manager Elly Waitoa said dog owners needed to understand the responsibility they took on when adopting a dog.
“If a dog has caused injury, damaged property or endangered people or other animals, the council can classify the dog owner as probationary or disqualified,” Waitoa said.
She said civil and criminal action could also be taken against a dog owner and lawsuits could be filed to recover damages caused by a dog.
“Dogs must be cared for with sufficient food, water and shelter provided, along with proper care, attention and exercise.”
She said that owners needed to have control over their dogs and closely supervise them to avoid causing a nuisance or harm.
Waitoa pointed to the rising number of dogs in Auckland and said there was a direct correlation to the number of classifications.
Several councillors at council’s Regulatory Committee on September 9 were unsure whether the Responsible Dog Owner License was still available to Aucklanders.
Waitoa said there had been a five per cent increase in dog owners with the license over the last year.
Dog owner Alexandra Johnston was fighting a classification at the same committee after her dog escaped and attacked other animals.
“It was never my intention to be in trouble. I don’t know how it all went so terribly,” Johnston said.
She said she was unaware of the action that could be taken against her when her dog got out of control.
If she had known how the Dog Control Act was written, Johnston said she would have made different choice like adopting a more trainable breed of dog.
Under the 1996 dog control act a person whose dog attacks a person or other animal may be convicted and fined up to $3000.
