SPCA calls for urgent dog law reform in open letter to Parliament

SPCA, alongside other organisations and individuals, has published a joint open letter to Parliament to demand reform of New Zealand’s outdated dog legislation. The open letter will appear in three major metropolitan newspapers: The Post, The Press and Sunday Star Times.

The letter is co-signed by New Zealand Veterinary Organisations, Companion Animal Veterinarians, New Zealand Animal Law Association, Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Aotearoa, Companion Animals New Zealand, HUHA, Association of Professional Dog Trainers NZ, Kiwi Vet Behaviour, The Dog Rescue Project, and Dogwatch.

"These tragedies are not isolated incidents," says Dr Arnja Dale, SPCA’s Chief Scientific Officer.

"They are symptoms of a system that is outdated, inconsistently applied and no longer fit for purpose. We cannot keep reacting to preventable deaths. We need meaningful, evidence-based reform, and we need it now."

Heart of the problem

At the heart of the problem is legislation that has not kept pace with what we now know about dog behaviour, welfare, and effective prevention. The Dog Control Act 1996 is 30 years old. The Dog Code of Welfare, issued under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, has not been reviewed since it was first introduced in 2010. There are still no enforceable regulations to address irresponsible dog breeding.

These gaps have real consequences, including poorly socialised puppies, unregulated breeding, and dogs entering communities already at heightened behavioural risk. This is all contributing to a system under strain. Dog-bite injuries generate thousands of ACC claims each year, costing millions in public funds. Councils report rising numbers of roaming and uncontrolled dogs, increasing impoundments, and more animals being euthanised.

"The science is clear on what drives dog aggression and dog bites," says Dr Dale.

"Negative early life experiences, inadequate socialisation, irresponsible breeding, punishment-based training -these are all known risk factors. Our legislation should reflect that knowledge. Right now, it doesn't."

The open letter calls on Government to commit to three essential legislative reforms:

1. A comprehensive overhaul of the Dog Control Act 1996

Replace outdated breed-specific provisions with evidence-based, nationally consistent risk management tools focused on individual dog behaviour and responsible ownership - including mandatory breeder licensing, puppy traceability, and national dog bite data collection to inform prevention strategies.

2. Strong, enforceable dog breeding regulations

Set minimum welfare requirements, minimum rehoming ages, limits on breeding frequency, and safeguards against inherited disease - reducing the number of poorly bred and inadequately socialised dogs entering our communities.

3. Modernisation of the Dog Code of Welfare

A revised Code was drafted in 2023 by SPCA in collaboration with a cross-sector working group and provided to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. Work to progress it was paused in 2025 at the direction of Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare), Andrew Hoggard. That work must resume immediately.

The letter also calls on central government to commit to ongoing funding for nationwide desexing initiatives as a core part of any dog-bite prevention framework.

Over a decade of advocacy

SPCA has been calling for reform in this space for over a decade, engaging with successive Ministers and consistently advocating for a coordinated national approach grounded in science, prevention and welfare.

"New Zealanders deserve a system that keeps people safe," says Dr Dale.

"Dogs deserve one that protects their welfare. Those two goals are not in conflict - in fact, they go hand in hand. But achieving both requires leadership from central government, and it requires action now."

Read the open letter and add your voice to the call for reform on our advocacy page.