Long-overdue review of Dog Control Act must deliver real change

Modernising the Act is an opportunity to reduce the population of stray and roaming dogs, improve responsible dog ownership, and create safer communities across the country.

“The Dog Control Act is now 30 years old and has never undergone a substantive review, despite major changes in dog ownership, urban development and public expectations,” says Dr Arnja Dale, SPCA’s Chief Scientific Officer.

“This is an important and overdue step toward improving public safety and animal welfare outcomes.

“The review is an opportunity to deliver the evidence-based, prevention-focused reform New Zealand urgently needs, and we are grateful that there is finally a commitment to a review.”

Dog bite incidents have continued to rise, and longstanding issues remain around roaming dogs, inconsistent council enforcement practices, and irresponsible breeding.

Last month, SPCA published a joint open letter, cosigned by animal welfare organisations and experts, calling for substantive reform of New Zealand’s outdated dog legislation. The group is calling for several key changes within the Dog Control Act, including:

• Nationally consistent, evidence-based guidelines for councils to follow after a dog bite incident.
• A centralised, anonymised national database for recording all dog bite incidents to inform prevention strategies.
• Amendments to destruction order provisions to allow judicial discretion before a conviction is obtained.
• Introduction of mandatory breeder licensing and puppy traceability for all dog breeders.

“Our hope is that the review announced today is a carefully considered, appropriately resourced, comprehensive and evidence-based review of legislation. It must be supported by updated operational guidance and include critical measures such as breeder licensing and a national dog bite database if we are to reduce dog attacks and ensure councils have the tools and clarity to act early and effectively,” says Dr Dale.

“Tinkering around the edges or reacting only after high profile tragedies will not prevent future harm. New Zealand has the opportunity to get this right.”

There is also a need for complementary updates to Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations and revisions to the Code of Welfare for Dogs to address irresponsible breeding practices and other risk factors that contribute to long-term welfare and public safety issues. We would welcome Minister Hoggard joining the conversation around roaming and uncontrolled dogs, given the clear links between these issues and broader welfare outcomes.

SPCA has been engaging with successive governments on this issue since 2015. In the middle of last year (2025), we met with both Minister Watts and Minister Hoggard to raise our concerns and proposed solutions to roaming and uncontrolled dogs. Following the tragic fatal mauling in Northland, we wrote to Minister Watts on four occasions urging progress toward meaningful reform.

“Modern, prevention-focused dog management is long overdue. We are very supportive of this important step and look forward to contributing constructively throughout the review process,” says Dr Dale.