Each year the Horowhenua District Council reports on how many dogs are registered, how many of those are dangerous or menacing, and where those dogs are to be found. The numbers seem to change a bit each year. This year there are 3 menacing dogs and no dangerous dogs at Waikawa Beach.
Menacing dogs
Councils can classify a dog as menacing if it considers that it poses a threat to any person, stock, poultry, domestic animal, or protected wildlife because of
- any observed or reported behaviour of the dog; or
- any characteristics typically associated with the dog’s breed or type.
Councils must classify a dog as menacing if it belongs wholly or predominately to the type or breed of dog banned from importation into New Zealand – American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Brazilian Fila, Japanese Tosa.
Menacing dogs must be muzzled when in public places and may be required by the council to be neutered.
Source: New Zealand Dog Safety – Dog Owners: Legal Responsibilities.
In the 2016 to 2017 year we had 0 dangerous and 1 menacing dog, while in 2015 to 2016 there was 1 dangerous and 1 menacing.
If you’d like to read the full ‘dog’ reports, we’ve uploaded them here.