The number of dogs in Tauranga City has reached an all-time high but animal control officers are keeping a tight leash on troublesome canines with attacks at a five-year low.

Tauranga City Council animal services team leader Brent Lincoln says this is the first time dog numbers have surpassed 11,000 – rising by five per cent year-on-year.

Tauranga City Council animal services team leader Brent Lincoln at the Tauranga City Pound. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

'It does put more pressure on us. It means that there are greater expectations for staff to get out and about and follow up on complaints,” says Brent.

'Last year we had the highest number of dogs impounded and the highest number of complaints and that's expected with the increase in number of dogs. It's increasing at the similar rate of dogs so it's not getting out of hand.”

What is most pleasing is the fact that even though the number of dogs multiplies, the number of reported attacks in Tauranga City is at a five year low, says Brent.

In 2013/14 there were 62 dog attacks compared to 78 in 2012/13.

'We just want to keep getting the message out there that dog owners need to be aware of the potential of their dogs.

'People with bull-type breeds face a higher risk that their dogs are likely to bite and are prone to bite more so they have to be extra vigilant.”

Annual dog registrations closed last week in the Bay and both Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council are reporting an increase in compliance for the discounted rates.

Tauranga City reports registrations are up by about 600 on last year, from 9363 to 9167 – an 89.3 per cent compliance rate.

Across town at Western Bay of Plenty District Council 87.5 per cent of the dog population has been registered with 7247 dogs out of a possible 8277 this year. This is slightly up on the 7163 registered ahead of last year's cut-off date.

Any dog over the age of three months must be registered each year for a period of one year from July 1 to June 30.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council animal services leader Andrew Hope says online registrations continue to be a popular, but there is still a minority who try to flaunt the law.

'It is looking at about 20 per cent this year [online registrations] are going to be doing it online, which is a great saving for the customer having to come into the council offices,” says Andrew.

People in the Western Bay registering dogs before July 31 pay a discounted fee of $77. Anyone who registers after 1 August must pay $115.

Tauranga City Council's discounted rate is $78.00 before the fee jumps to $109.

Andrew says on top of the fee increase, if the dog is found the owners may be subject to a $300 infringement fee or the dog maybe seized while they still have to pay the registration fee.

'We are going to start doing the rounds soon so it would be advantageous that they came in with their dogs before we come out and find them.”