Official Information Request - dog attack statistics

Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2022 1:14 pm
Subject: LGOIMA - dog attack statistics

I refer to your LGOIMA request of 24 August 2022 regarding dog attack statistics for the period 1 January 2017 to 31 July 2022.

• The number of registered dogs in your local authority, broken down annually and by month.
  Below are the number of registered dogs broken down annually and by month. Note: The monthly figures are a running total starting at June ie: the figure for May is the total registered dogs for that year.

• The number of dog attacks on people council has recorded, broken down annually and by month.
  Attached is a spreadsheet labelled ‘dog attacks on persons’. Please refer to the sheet labelled ‘Count by Month-Year’ for the number of notified dog attacks on people.
• The number of dog attacks on people council has recorded, broken down by whichever way you categorise the severity of the attack, annually and by month.
  Council’s database does not record the severity of the attack. This information therefore cannot be provided as per section 17(e) of LGOIMA ‘that the information requested does not exist’.
• Among all the possible interventions on the attacking dog following an attack, please list how many of each of those interventions were taken, annually and by month (please also include for how many there was no intervention).
• Among all the possible consequences for the dog owner following an attack, please list how many of each of those were taken, annually and by month (please also include for how many there was no consequence).
  Attached is a spreadsheet labelled ‘dog attacks on persons’. Please refer to the sheet labelled ‘Data’. This information is collated from Council’s Request for Service system under the category of ‘Attack_Person’. Column H records the outcome of the complaint or notification in regards to either the owner or dog. No further breakdown is available.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. The Ombudsman’s Office can be contacted by calling 0800 802 602, emailing info@ombudsman.parliament.nz, online at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143

Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests

Please note: Our LGOIMA responses may be published on the Rotorua Lakes Council website after they have been responded to, with requesters’ personal details withheld. If you have any concerns about this please contact the Council on info@rotorualc.nz.

Regards