Rangitīkei Releases 2025/26 Dog Control Annual Report

Rangitīkei District Council has released its Dog Control Policy and Practices Report for the 2025/26 financial year, fulfilling statutory reporting requirements under Section 10A of the Dog Control Act 1996.

The annual report outlines canine management, operational service requests, and enforcement activities across the district between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.

Registration and shared animal control operations

As at 30 June 2026, the district recorded 2,306 registered dog owners and 4,824 registered dogs, down from 4,969 in the previous year. The canine population comprised:

• Working dogs: 2,337 dogs
• Good Dog Owner category: 1,845 dogs
• Other non-working dogs: 642 dogs

Council operates a shared Animal Control service with Manawatū District Council under an agreement renewed every three years. The joint team comprises five Animal Control Officers and one Manager Animal Control, with two officers based in Rangitīkei, two in Manawatū, and one floater operating across both districts. Standard operating hours run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays, with a rostered officer available outside those hours for Priority One incidents, including dog attacks, secured dogs requiring collection and stock presenting an immediate hazard on a road.

Service requests and statutory enforcement

During the reporting period, Animal Control Officers responded to 722 requests for service, down from 819 in 2024/25. Wandering or stray animals accounted for 221 calls (approximately 31%), while another 65 calls related to dogs secured by the public. Together, the report says, these made up approximately 40% of all requests. Barking complaints generated 129 calls (approximately 18%). The rest included 76 attacks and rushing incidents, 78 lost-dog reports, and 14 animal welfare or property investigations.

The report also says lost, found and roaming dogs are increasingly posted on social media rather than reported directly to Council, which can delay its response and allow some dogs to be returned without Council having an opportunity to address the owner's responsibilities.

Council issued 49 infringement notices during the period, compared to 50 in 2024/25, with the majority relating to registration non-compliance. The report's statistics list 30 infringements sent to court, compared to 29 the year before, and no prosecutions. It says unpaid notices may be lodged with the Ministry of Justice for collection once the statutory requirements have been met.

Owner and canine classifications across the district comprise:

• Dangerous dogs: Five dogs, up from three (four classified by sworn evidence and one by owner admittance in writing).
• Menacing dogs: 30 dogs (down from 36), including 17 classified for behaviour, three for breed characteristics, and 10 as Schedule 4 breeds.
• Owner classifications: No disqualified or probationary owners.

Registration fees and residential property rules

The report says registration fees rose from $160 to $165 for non-working dogs, from $105 to $110 for neutered or spayed non-working dogs, from $75 to $77 for Good Dog Owner category dogs, and from $55 to $56 for working dogs. Under Council's Control of Dogs Bylaw, owners in residential areas must obtain a multiple-dog permit before keeping more than two dogs on a property.

For wider council compliance and owner obligations, see our checklist for NZ council dog registration and complete guide to dog registration in New Zealand.

Sources

• https://www.rangitikei.govt.nz/files/general/Other/Annual-Section-10A-Dog-Control-report-2025-26.pdf