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Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Rejects Dog Task Force Amid Calls From Residents
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Rejects Dog Task Force Amid Calls From Residents

Scoop

time22-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Scoop

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Rejects Dog Task Force Amid Calls From Residents

Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter Wayne Brown says he acknowledges the rising concerns about roaming dogs, but insists the council is already addressing the issue. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has rejected requests to establish a mayoral taskforce on dogs, saying it would duplicate initiatives already in place. The decision comes despite increasing pressure from Manurewa residents, who feel that roaming dogs are making their neighbourhoods unsafe. Brown acknowledged the rising concerns about roaming dogs, especially in South Auckland. But he insisted that the council was addressing the issue through existing programmes. Brown supported the work of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, chaired by Councillor Josephine Bartley and supported Councillor Daniel Newman from Manurewa and the local board. The committee focuses on improving public safety and managing dangerous dogs. Brown and Bartley had also communicated with relevant government ministers, advocating for legislative changes to strengthen enforcement powers. The council's Long-Term Plan has allocated further funding to hire more animal control officers, improve enforcement, trial desexing programmes in high-risk areas, and seek reforms to the Dog Control Act. Brown said a data-led approach to targeting areas in need, including free desexing services in South and West Auckland, was key. He also recognised the Manurewa Local Board's efforts to fund more animal control staff and was looking for ways to expand the capacity of local shelters. Residents report ongoing issues Despite these efforts, Manurewa residents contended that the problem remained unresolved. At a public meeting hosted by MP Arena Williams, several residents shared alarming stories about dangerous, roaming dogs in their streets and parks. Brendan, a concerned resident, recounted, 'I was fixing up my boat, and from around the corner a huge dog suddenly advanced on me. Lucky, I was able to drive it back using a rope.' Victoria, a local dog owner, was frustrated, and said the issue had forced her to stop walking in her neighbourhood. 'I'm afraid to go to my local park. I bought a house here and want to make it my home, but I'm driving to other suburbs to walk my dog. It's holding me back from making friends and putting down roots.' Another resident Ryan said response times from the council had worsened. 'I've been calling the Council, but response times have gotten worse. I wonder if, after a certain time, traps could be used in problematic places.' Williams continued to advocate for a mayoral taskforce on dogs and is working closely with central government. 'Central government are holding local government back. They need to legislate for change, fund frontline council services, and back the communities carrying the burden of inaction,' she said. She thanked the SPCA, Brown, and Bartley for supporting a new initiative that offers free dog desexing, microchipping, and vaccinations in high-need areas like Manurewa. Frontline groups seek urgent support Jo Coulam, a volunteer with the Saving Hope Foundation, said they were overwhelmed and had seen little change since the council's pilot programme began. The system was not reaching the right whānau early enough and lacked meaningful follow-up, she said. Her team continued to use donations to fund desexing when they could. 'As far as the dog crisis goes, to us nothing has changed,' she said. 'We still see roaming dogs everywhere, and we're still getting calls every day about puppies being born. We've had over probably nearly 300 requests this month alone for us to take people's dogs. 'People are scared their dogs will be taken. They want help, but they're scared because their dog isn't registered or desexed.' A recent event at Rawirit Community House brought dog owners together, providing support, flea treatments, deworming, and information on council-funded desexing, Coulam said. 'We've met thousands of families desperate to have their dogs de-sexed to end the cycle of unwanted puppies,' she said. In one remarkable case, she shared that a dog was finally desexed after having 26 puppies in just seven months. On the pilot programme's efficacy, Coulam said, 'They need to get the people like the people that come to our food drops and our desexing talks, those are the ones you want to get because their dog, while they're not problems yet, they will become problems and they'll become the roamers. 'That's the scale of the problem if you don't act early.' Council outlines comprehensive plan Auckland Council's general manager of licensing and compliance Robert Irvine emphasised the seriousness with which the council treated the issue, especially in high-risk areas like Manurewa. 'Dogs can make wonderful additions to our whānau, but they come with commitments,' he said. 'Desexing is one of the core requirements of responsible dog ownership.' The council had invested about $5 million in additional funding for animal management, he said. This included hiring new staff, implementing public education campaigns, targeted desexing, proactive enforcement, and developing a new animal shelter. The council continued to collaborate with the SPCA and community groups, and advocates for reforms to the Dog Control Act. Desexing vouchers were not available for public application, he said. Instead, officers issued them during engagements or when releasing impounded dogs. He says there was no formal follow-up process for voucher use. 'The focus of this initiative is on support and prevention, not punishment,' he said. 'Our goal is to ensure residents feel safe and supported when accessing services. 'The onus is on the recipient to book and attend the appointment. We've not been made aware of any issues regarding a lack of follow-up.'

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Rejects Dog Task Force Amid Calls From Residents
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Rejects Dog Task Force Amid Calls From Residents

Scoop

time22-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Scoop

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Rejects Dog Task Force Amid Calls From Residents

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has rejected requests to establish a mayoral taskforce on dogs, saying it would duplicate initiatives already in place. The decision comes despite increasing pressure from Manurewa residents, who feel that roaming dogs are making their neighbourhoods unsafe. Brown acknowledged the rising concerns about roaming dogs, especially in South Auckland. But he insisted that the council was addressing the issue through existing programmes. Brown supported the work of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, chaired by Councillor Josephine Bartley and supported Councillor Daniel Newman from Manurewa and the local board. The committee focuses on improving public safety and managing dangerous dogs. Brown and Bartley had also communicated with relevant government ministers, advocating for legislative changes to strengthen enforcement powers. The council's Long-Term Plan has allocated further funding to hire more animal control officers, improve enforcement, trial desexing programmes in high-risk areas, and seek reforms to the Dog Control Act. Brown said a data-led approach to targeting areas in need, including free desexing services in South and West Auckland, was key. He also recognised the Manurewa Local Board's efforts to fund more animal control staff and was looking for ways to expand the capacity of local shelters. Residents report ongoing issues Despite these efforts, Manurewa residents contended that the problem remained unresolved. At a public meeting hosted by MP Arena Williams, several residents shared alarming stories about dangerous, roaming dogs in their streets and parks. Brendan, a concerned resident, recounted, "I was fixing up my boat, and from around the corner a huge dog suddenly advanced on me. Lucky, I was able to drive it back using a rope." Victoria, a local dog owner, was frustrated, and said the issue had forced her to stop walking in her neighbourhood. "I'm afraid to go to my local park. I bought a house here and want to make it my home, but I'm driving to other suburbs to walk my dog. It's holding me back from making friends and putting down roots." Another resident Ryan said response times from the council had worsened. "I've been calling the Council, but response times have gotten worse. I wonder if, after a certain time, traps could be used in problematic places." Williams continued to advocate for a mayoral taskforce on dogs and is working closely with central government. "Central government are holding local government back. They need to legislate for change, fund frontline council services, and back the communities carrying the burden of inaction," she said. She thanked the SPCA, Brown, and Bartley for supporting a new initiative that offers free dog desexing, microchipping, and vaccinations in high-need areas like Manurewa. Frontline groups seek urgent support Jo Coulam, a volunteer with the Saving Hope Foundation, said they were overwhelmed and had seen little change since the council's pilot programme began. The system was not reaching the right whānau early enough and lacked meaningful follow-up, she said. Her team continued to use donations to fund desexing when they could. "As far as the dog crisis goes, to us nothing has changed," she said. "We still see roaming dogs everywhere, and we're still getting calls every day about puppies being born. We've had over probably nearly 300 requests this month alone for us to take people's dogs. "People are scared their dogs will be taken. They want help, but they're scared because their dog isn't registered or desexed." A recent event at Rawirit Community House brought dog owners together, providing support, flea treatments, deworming, and information on council-funded desexing, Coulam said. "We've met thousands of families desperate to have their dogs de-sexed to end the cycle of unwanted puppies," she said. In one remarkable case, she shared that a dog was finally desexed after having 26 puppies in just seven months. On the pilot programme's efficacy, Coulam said, "They need to get the people like the people that come to our food drops and our desexing talks, those are the ones you want to get because their dog, while they're not problems yet, they will become problems and they'll become the roamers. "That's the scale of the problem if you don't act early." Council outlines comprehensive plan Auckland Council's general manager of licensing and compliance Robert Irvine emphasised the seriousness with which the council treated the issue, especially in high-risk areas like Manurewa. "Dogs can make wonderful additions to our whānau, but they come with commitments," he said. "Desexing is one of the core requirements of responsible dog ownership." The council had invested about $5 million in additional funding for animal management, he said. This included hiring new staff, implementing public education campaigns, targeted desexing, proactive enforcement, and developing a new animal shelter. The council continued to collaborate with the SPCA and community groups, and advocates for reforms to the Dog Control Act. Desexing vouchers were not available for public application, he said. Instead, officers issued them during engagements or when releasing impounded dogs. He says there was no formal follow-up process for voucher use. "The focus of this initiative is on support and prevention, not punishment," he said. "Our goal is to ensure residents feel safe and supported when accessing services. "The onus is on the recipient to book and attend the appointment. We've not been made aware of any issues regarding a lack of follow-up."

Mayor rejects dog taskforce amid calls for action from residents
Mayor rejects dog taskforce amid calls for action from residents

1News

time21-06-2025

  • Politics
  • 1News

Mayor rejects dog taskforce amid calls for action from residents

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has rejected requests to establish a mayoral taskforce on dogs, saying it would duplicate initiatives already in place. The decision comes despite increased pressure from Manurewa residents, who feel that roaming dogs were making their neighbourhoods unsafe. Brown acknowledged the rising concerns about roaming dogs, especially in South Auckland. But he insisted that the council was addressing the issue through existing programmes. Brown supports the work of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, chaired by Councillor Josephine Bartley and supported Councillor Daniel Newman from Manurewa and the local board. The committee focused on improving public safety and managing dangerous dogs. ADVERTISEMENT Brown and Bartley had also communicated with relevant government ministers, advocating for legislative changes to strengthen enforcement powers. The council's Long-Term Plan has allocated further funding to hire more animal control officers, improve enforcement, trial desexing programmes in high-risk areas, and seek reforms to the Dog Control Act. Brown said a data-led approach to targeting areas in need, including free desexing services in south and west Auckland, is key. He also recognised the Manurewa Local Board's efforts to fund more animal control staff and is looking for ways to expand the capacity of local shelters. Residents report ongoing issues Despite these efforts, Manurewa residents contend that the problem remains unresolved. At a public meeting hosted by MP Arena Williams, several locals shared alarming stories about dangerous, roaming dogs in their streets and parks. Brendan, a concerned resident, recounted, 'I was fixing up my boat, and from around the corner a huge dog suddenly advanced on me. Lucky, I was able to drive it back using a rope." ADVERTISEMENT Victoria, a local dog owner, is frustrated, saying the issue has forced her to stop walking in her neighbourhood. "I'm afraid to go to my local park. I bought a house here and want to make it my home, but I'm driving to other suburbs to walk my dog. It's holding me back from making friends and putting down roots." Another resident Ryan says response times from the council have worsened. "I've been calling the Council, but response times have gotten worse. I wonder if, after a certain time, traps could be used in problematic places." Williams continues to advocate for a mayoral taskforce on dogs and is working closely with central government. "Central Government are holding local Government back. They need to legislate for change, fund frontline Council services, and back the communities carrying the burden of inaction," she said. She also thanked the SPCA, Brown, and Bartley for supporting a new initiative that offers free dog desexing, microchipping, and vaccinations in high-need areas like Manurewa. Auckland Council says desexing is one of the core requirements of responsible dog ownership. (Source: Frontline groups seek urgent support ADVERTISEMENT Jo Coulam, a volunteer with the Saving Hope Foundation, said they were overwhelmed and have seen little change since the council's pilot programme began. She said the system is not reaching the right whānau early enough and lacks meaningful follow-up. Her team continues to use donations to fund desexing when they can. "As far as the dog crisis goes, to us nothing has changed," she said. "We still see roaming dogs everywhere, and we're still getting calls every day about puppies being born. We've had over probably nearly 300 requests this month alone for us to take people's dogs. "People are scared their dogs will be taken. They want help, but they're scared because their dog isn't registered or desexed." Coulam said a recent event at Rawirit Community House brought dog owners together, providing support, flea treatments, deworming, and information on council-funded desexing. "We've met thousands of families desperate to have their dogs de-sexed to end the cycle of unwanted puppies," she said. In one remarkable case, she shared that a dog was finally desexed after having 26 puppies in just seven months. ADVERTISEMENT On the pilot programme's efficacy, Coulam said, 'They need to get the people like the people that come to our food drops and our desexing talks, those are the ones you want to get because their dog, while they're not problems yet, they will become problems and they'll become the roamers. 'That's the scale of the problem if you don't act early.' Council outlines comprehensive plan Auckland Council's General Manager of Licensing and Compliance, Robert Irvine, emphasises the seriousness with which the council treats the issue, especially in high-risk areas like Manurewa. "Dogs can make wonderful additions to our whānau, but they come with commitments," he said. "Desexing is one of the core requirements of responsible dog ownership." He said the council has invested about $5 million in additional funding for animal management. This includes hiring new staff, implementing public education campaigns, targeted desexing, proactive enforcement, and developing a new animal shelter. The council continues to collaborate with the SPCA and community groups, and advocates for reforms to the Dog Control Act. ADVERTISEMENT Irvine said desexing vouchers are not available for public application. Instead, officers issue them during engagements or when releasing impounded dogs. He said there was no formal follow-up process for voucher use. "The focus of this initiative is on support and prevention, not punishment," he said. "Our goal is to ensure residents feel safe and supported when accessing services. "The onus is on the recipient to book and attend the appointment. We've not been made aware of any issues regarding a lack of follow-up." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Toddler Mauled By Roaming Dogs In Front Yard – Council Calls It A Wake-up Call
Toddler Mauled By Roaming Dogs In Front Yard – Council Calls It A Wake-up Call

Scoop

time14-05-2025

  • Scoop

Toddler Mauled By Roaming Dogs In Front Yard – Council Calls It A Wake-up Call

Press Release – Auckland Council A two-year-old child sustained life-threatening injuries in a horrific dog attack in March 2024. The young boy was mauled by two dogs while playing in the front yard of his south Auckland home. The unprovoked and sustained attack left him with several serious wounds to his neck and head, and a fractured shoulder blade, requiring multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay. The dogs, two American Bulldogs roamed freely into the child's yard and attacked him without warning. Despite heroic efforts by bystanders and the victim's mother, who physically lifted her child to safety, the dogs continued to attack. CCTV footage confirmed the brutality of the attack, which ended only when the dogs were forcibly removed and driven away by the owners' relatives. On 30 July 2024, the Auckland Council commenced a criminal prosecution against the owner, laying two charges for owning dogs that attacked a person causing serious injury. Last week in the Manukau District Court, Judge Moala sentenced the owner, Ms Janna Faumui who had pleaded guilty to the charges, to 150 hours of community work and ordered her to pay $2,000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim's family. Judge Moala considered that where the victim of a dog attack has suffered near-fatal injuries, the starting point for sentence is likely to be one of imprisonment. However, the Judge did not consider imprisonment was appropriate in this case given the defendant's lack of criminal history and there being no indication she was a danger to the community. The defendant was given credit for her early guilty pleas, her lack of conviction history and the remorse she had shown for the offending. Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Councillor Josephine Bartley expressed heartfelt concern for the toddler. 'It is not okay for dogs to be roaming or uncontrolled. The trauma and injuries inflicted on this child were horrific and entirely preventable,' she said. 'Dog owners must understand their responsibilities. This is not optional. If they fail in those duties, we will not hesitate to prosecute.' Auckland Council's General Manager of Licensing and Compliance, Robert Irvine, says this is another devastating example of the serious consequences of roaming dogs in our city. 'We commend the bravery of the bystanders who tried to intervene in the attack,' said Mr Irvine. 'No one should ever have to witness such violence, especially a parent.' 'We have increased the number of Animal Management Officers and their proactive patrolling in high-risk areas, and we are doing all we can to prevent incidences like this from happening, but we can't be everywhere all the time. We need dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs, keep them contained and not allow them to roam,' adds Irvine. The council has confirmed both dogs were voluntarily surrendered and euthanised following the attack. Auckland Council urges all dog owners to ensure their pets are secure, well-trained, and never allowed to roam. 'One moment of negligence can result in a lifetime of pain,' says Mr Irvine. Further case highlights dangers of careless dog ownership In a separate case in the Manukau District Court, Maxine Hona was sentenced to 100 hours of community work and ordered to pay $200 in emotional harm reparation after her dog, Otis, seriously attacked a visitor in her home in March 2024. Despite Ms Hona's attempt to contain her dog before allowing the victim inside, it escaped and launched a persistent attack, injuring both the visitor and Ms Hona herself. The court rejected arguments that this was an exceptional incident and made an order for the dog's destruction. Judge Patel stressed that even one-off failures to control dogs can have devastating consequences. This case reinforces Auckland Council's message: pet ownership comes with absolute responsibility. There is no margin for error when it comes to public safety.

Toddler Mauled By Roaming Dogs In Front Yard – Council Calls It A Wake-up Call
Toddler Mauled By Roaming Dogs In Front Yard – Council Calls It A Wake-up Call

Scoop

time14-05-2025

  • Scoop

Toddler Mauled By Roaming Dogs In Front Yard – Council Calls It A Wake-up Call

Press Release – Auckland Council The young boy was mauled by two dogs while playing in the front yard of his south Auckland home. The unprovoked and sustained attack left him with several serious wounds to his neck and head, and a fractured shoulder blade, requiring multiple surgeries … A two-year-old child sustained life-threatening injuries in a horrific dog attack in March 2024. The young boy was mauled by two dogs while playing in the front yard of his south Auckland home. The unprovoked and sustained attack left him with several serious wounds to his neck and head, and a fractured shoulder blade, requiring multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay. The dogs, two American Bulldogs roamed freely into the child's yard and attacked him without warning. Despite heroic efforts by bystanders and the victim's mother, who physically lifted her child to safety, the dogs continued to attack. CCTV footage confirmed the brutality of the attack, which ended only when the dogs were forcibly removed and driven away by the owners' relatives. On 30 July 2024, the Auckland Council commenced a criminal prosecution against the owner, laying two charges for owning dogs that attacked a person causing serious injury. Last week in the Manukau District Court, Judge Moala sentenced the owner, Ms Janna Faumui who had pleaded guilty to the charges, to 150 hours of community work and ordered her to pay $2,000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim's family. Judge Moala considered that where the victim of a dog attack has suffered near-fatal injuries, the starting point for sentence is likely to be one of imprisonment. However, the Judge did not consider imprisonment was appropriate in this case given the defendant's lack of criminal history and there being no indication she was a danger to the community. The defendant was given credit for her early guilty pleas, her lack of conviction history and the remorse she had shown for the offending. Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Councillor Josephine Bartley expressed heartfelt concern for the toddler. 'It is not okay for dogs to be roaming or uncontrolled. The trauma and injuries inflicted on this child were horrific and entirely preventable,' she said. 'Dog owners must understand their responsibilities. This is not optional. If they fail in those duties, we will not hesitate to prosecute.' Auckland Council's General Manager of Licensing and Compliance, Robert Irvine, says this is another devastating example of the serious consequences of roaming dogs in our city. 'We commend the bravery of the bystanders who tried to intervene in the attack,' said Mr Irvine. 'No one should ever have to witness such violence, especially a parent.' 'We have increased the number of Animal Management Officers and their proactive patrolling in high-risk areas, and we are doing all we can to prevent incidences like this from happening, but we can't be everywhere all the time. We need dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs, keep them contained and not allow them to roam,' adds Irvine. The council has confirmed both dogs were voluntarily surrendered and euthanised following the attack. Auckland Council urges all dog owners to ensure their pets are secure, well-trained, and never allowed to roam. 'One moment of negligence can result in a lifetime of pain,' says Mr Irvine. Further case highlights dangers of careless dog ownership In a separate case in the Manukau District Court, Maxine Hona was sentenced to 100 hours of community work and ordered to pay $200 in emotional harm reparation after her dog, Otis, seriously attacked a visitor in her home in March 2024. Despite Ms Hona's attempt to contain her dog before allowing the victim inside, it escaped and launched a persistent attack, injuring both the visitor and Ms Hona herself. The court rejected arguments that this was an exceptional incident and made an order for the dog's destruction. Judge Patel stressed that even one-off failures to control dogs can have devastating consequences. This case reinforces Auckland Council's message: pet ownership comes with absolute responsibility. There is no margin for error when it comes to public safety.

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