DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK – WHY IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO PAY ATTENTION
Source: Scoop (Extract)
Posted: March 30, 2025
As we enter Dog Bite Prevention Week (April 7), New Zealanders are being urged to take dog safety advice seriously. The country has experienced a rising number of dog attacks in recent months—some of which have been horrific and nearly fatal—prompting local councils to strengthen their animal control units.
The issue is escalating quickly, with ACC’s latest report revealing a staggering 29,233 reported dog incidents last year, a 46% increase since 2015. In 2024, ACC paid out nearly 34 million dollars for dog-related incidents, marking a 193% increase since 2015.
Women have been more affected than men, with 17,763 reported incidents involving women compared to 11,457 involving men.
Jo Clough, founder and director of Dog Safe Workplace, is increasingly concerned about the lack of consistency in dog safety advice and is actively working to address this growing issue.
It is not a quick fix, but we all need to be giving the same message.”
Statistics NZ, DHL, First Security, and Whangarei and South Waikato District Councils are among those distributing that message over Dog Bite Prevention Week.
Jo says Dog Bite Prevention Week is an opportunity for everyone who owns or interacts with dogs to reflect on how they can improve their approach to reducing incidents.
However, she emphasizes that there isn’t a single cause to blame, and that education must be delivered at various levels to effectively address the issue.
Jo Clough is releasing a safety tip every day of Dog Bite Prevention Week with the hope of preventing attacks and the impact of them.
