Issues of roaming and aggressive dogs are in the national spotlight after attacks and deaths. To gain insight into the work of those on the dog control frontlines, Local Democracy Reporting spoke to a Tauranga animal control leader and joined an officer on her rounds.

A small white Maltese-cross dog is barking as animal services officer Ibanez Te Moni approaches the property.

It’s just as the complaints described.

Tauranga City Council’s animal control team receives more than 75 complaints per week, and more than 90% relate to dogs.

While there were some “serial complainers”, Te Moni said every day in her job is different.

Her responsibilities included visiting properties to respond to complaints, filing reports and investigating attacks.

She had been on the job a year after shifting from security work.

The uniform was similar to a police officer’s, with cameras to record, radios and safety equipment. She also carried a microchip scanner, dog leash and maybe a few canine treats in her pocket.

Her big blue van carries dog crates and equipment in the back, ready for all situations.

After lunch, she visited a property after complaints of an excessively barking dog.

The barking started before she reached the door, with the small – but loud – white, fluffy pet visible through the glass panel.

The property owner said the dog belonged to a relative.

Te Moni described the interaction as the “best-case scenario”: the property owner was friendly, helpful and understood what needed to be done.

The dog’s microchip was scanned, and registration recorded.

Te Moni said dachshunds were the breed causing the most barking complaints in Tauranga.

Tauranga City Council animal services officer Ibanez Te Moni said dachshunds were the most common breed for barking complaints. Photo / supplied

At a later job, the owner was not so cooperative.

A black Labrador-cross accused of roaming and defecating on a neighbour’s lawn had not been registered for five years, having been reported dead or missing.

It was old, but very much alive and present, when Te Moni arrived.

The owner was not home but would later argue on the phone that, given the dog’s age, she should not have to pay for its registration, only for it to likely die soon.

Te Moni instructed her to register the dog.

Tauranga City Council animal services officer Ibanez Te Moni said registering your dog was compulsory. Photo / Supplied

In another job, an American bulldog was attracting barking complaints at an address where no dog was registered.

Te Moni scanned the area as she drove in, looking for safety risks such as open gates that a dog may rush out of.

A large dog, brindled body and white face, sat in the doorway, tethered and barking loudly.

The homeowner said the dog was not hers, but it was “fine” and not to worry. It was Te Moni’s job, however, to assess the situation.

She asked the homeowner to have the dog’s owner contact the council.

For health and safety, Te Moni could only attend low-risk callouts the day Local Democracy Reporting joined her, but she described more extreme situations she had faced.

She said she had faced abuse when people assumed she would take their dog away.

Te Moni said sometimes she had to do things she did not want to, but ultimately, “someone has to do the job”.

“This job is not for the faint-hearted.”

Officers prioritised educating owners to help solve the situation, rather than impounding dogs.

Owners could, however, face infringements ranging from not carrying a leash in public to falsely notifying the death of a dog.

Oscar Glossop said of the complaints made to the animal services team each week, more than 90% of them are about dogs. Photo / Kelly O'Hara

Council animal services team leader Oscar Glossop said most infringements issued were for failing to register a dog or incidents where a dog had not been kept under effective control.

After three infringements, the owner was disqualified, and the dog impounded.

Impounded dogs that could not be returned to their owners were assessed for rehoming, including temperament testing.

Dogs that passed went through an adoption programme before becoming available for adoption.

Glossop said the pound facility was modern, with space for up to 40 dogs.

“Each dog has its own indoor, air-conditioned space, along with outdoor areas for play.”

He said 135 dogs were euthanised by the council in the 2024/25 year.

For 2025/26, they were tracking about two-thirds of that number.

“We’re dog lovers and work closely with local rescues to help find homes for our dogs.

“But we can’t save every dog.”

Tauranga dog pound. Photo / Kelly O'Hara

Prosecution cases usually resulted in court-ordered destruction.

Glossop said de-sexing dogs helped reduce unwanted litters, which reduced the pressure on the adoption system.

People considering getting a dog should consider if they could meet its needs.

“Dogs that are bored or not stimulated can quickly become a challenge for owners, and we never want to see dogs return to the pound.”

Te Moni said she dealt with many complaints about roaming, barking and attacking dogs.

In a recent incident, she said a pack of three dogs seriously injured another dog.

There had also been issues with dogs travelling in packs and killing livestock.

She had to deal with dogs classified as menacing by breed, or dangerous because of involvement in a past incident.

As part of the training, officers wore a bite protection suit and were rushed at and bitten by police dogs to understand the force of the dog.

Dogs are classified as dangerous if council believe the dog is a risk to public safety. Photo / 123RF

The animal services team often worked alongside the SPCA and local dog rescue trust Vada’s Angels, as well as the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and other councils around the region.

It’s a busy and demanding role, Glossop said.

“One moment they might be chasing a goat that has got into someone’s veggie garden, herding cows back through a broken fence, or tracking down rogue roosters [all true stories].

“But what really drives them is the memory of the last dog attack victim.

“That’s always at the back of their mind, and it’s why they work so hard to keep people safe.”

Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.