Dog owners - and poultry owners - have been told to secure their animals after several incidents in Dunedin.
While the number of dog attacks on poultry was low, with four so far this year, Dunedin City Council animal services said this compared with just one last year, as more residents opted to have the birds on the property.
Senior animal control officer Peter Hanlin said those included incidents in city suburbs including Northeast Valley and Woodhaugh.
Dogs could be seized and destroyed for attacking people, stock, poultry, domestic animals or protected wildlife, and owners could face fines.
Fines had been imposed, and one dog classed as menacing, as a result of the incidents, although Mr Hanlin said the owners had been responsible and paid reparation.
''Dog owners are responsible for chicken attacks if their dog is not under control and is not securely contained when it attacks a chicken.''
Mr Hanlin recommended dog owners keep their pets secured and fenced.
But he said poultry owners also had a responsibility.
If poultry wandered on to a neighbour's fenced area where the dog was under control, the responsibility of an attack did not lie with the dog owner.
Poultry owners needed to think about how they kept their birds safe when out of their coops.
''We recommend those who are thinking of getting chickens talk to any neighbours who have dogs so they can secure their property and dogs.''
Mr Hanlin said two dogs were euthanized after they attacked ducks on a semi-rural property in Dunedin last week.
He said the owners had acted responsibly by handing the dogs over to the council.
''They recognised there was a problem.''
