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Make a complaint about a dog

Contact us on (03) 211 1777 to make a complaint about a dog.

Our animal control team respond to dog attacks and reports of nuisance dogs, and retrieve roaming dogs.

You can make a complaint about any dog that is:

  • attacking
  • aggressive
  • barking
  • roaming
  • fouling
  • unregistered

Living close to a barking dog can be a real nuisance, especially if it happens during the hours when you would like to be sleeping. Here is some advice about what to do if you have a barking dog in your neighbourhood.

First, try to speak to the owner of the dog. It may be that they are not aware that their dog is barking, especially if it is happening during the day when they are at work and you are at home.

If you continue to be bothered by barking, contact us by on (03) 211 1777. The person you speak with will take some details, and pass on your complaint to an investigating officer. You can also email us on service@icc.govt.nz. We will contact you to find out what your concerns are as soon as possible, and keep in touch as we work through the problem.

We might ask you to help us with our investigations

For example, we might ask you to keep a log and note down each time you hear the dog barking, how long it is happening for, and what effect it is having on you. If the issue is ongoing, we may provide you with a barklog. We may also ask your permission to install a recording device on your property.

What happens when I complain about a barking dog?

Our Animal Services team can only become actively involved in a complaint if we have reasonable grounds under the Dog Control Act 1996 to believe that the dog is creating a nuisance by persistent and loud barking (or howling).

If a dog is barking constantly throughout the day and night, or if it is barking aggressively when you pass by, we may well have grounds to do something about it. This could include:

  • Phoning or visiting the owner to speak with them. We will try to work out a way with them to stop or reduce the barking.
  • Issuing a warning letter, requiring that they must do something to stop the barking within seven days.
  • Issuing a letter telling the owner that they must remove the dog from the property within seven days. If this does not happen, Animal Control Officers may then remove the dog. The dog cannot return to that property again.

We do need to be fair. For instance, if the dog barks for just a few minutes two or three times during the day, we might not consider this to be a nuisance, because it is not reasonable to expect a dog to be quiet all the time.

A wandering dog behaves differently in unfamiliar places and is more likely to attack and bite. Our Animal Control Officers are asked to pick up any dogs they see on the streets, or when they receive reports of a wandering dog.

If you are approached by a dog and you feel threatened or uneasy, stand still, look at your feet and not the dog, and cross your arms in front of you. Then when the dog moves away, just walk backwards quietly and slowly away

Phone us on (03) 211 1777 immediately.

The Council’s Animal Services team takes reports of dog attacks very seriously, and will always investigate them. The person you speak with will take some details, and pass on your complaint to an investigating officer.

We will dispatch an officer immediately when we hear from you and they will contact you as soon as possible, unless the attack is in progress, then we will dispatch an officer immediately.

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