An increasing number of dog attacks is worrying the Waitaki District Council, with 17 recorded so far this year compared with 13 in all of last year.
Last month, there were four dog attacks on people, all made by pitbull-type breeds.
While regulatory services manager Lichelle Guyan could not give specific details yesterday, she said none had been referred to police and court so were not serious.
''We have a staggering number of wandering, lost and found dogs reported, with 344 in the past five months - 71 more complaints than the same time last year,'' she said.
The council was very concerned with this growing trend.
With the holiday season approaching and the warmer evenings more people were out walking and enjoying the weather, so the streets and neighbourhoods needed to be safe for everyone.
There were heavy penalties involved should a dog attack occur, including the attacking dog being euthanised.
When a dog attack was reported, the council investigated thoroughly, including interviewing any witnesses and an infringement notice would be issued.
In particular instances, the dog may be classified as ''dangerous'', which incurred a higher registration fee. Also, the dog would be required to be neutered and it would be required to wear a muzzle when in public.
People who saw a wandering dog were urged to report it to the council's dog control, available at any time on (03) 433-0300.
If possible, a photo and date would be helpful for the investigation.
However, people should not approach wandering dogs as their behaviour can be unpredictable.
''We want dog owners to take good care of their pets, ensure they are on a lead, have a suitable receptacle to clean up any dog excrement and are well behaved to keep our community safe,'' Mrs Guyan said.
The majority of dog owners took these responsibilities very seriously, but there was a growing problem and some owners needed to step up and take responsibility for the behaviour of their dogs.
Dog owners were responsible for ensuring their dogs were well cared for, had water on hand, got regular exercise and were not able to leave the confines of their property without their owners.
''A dog must be under control at all times, even on their own property,'' Mrs Guyan said.
The council's new Dog Control Policy and Bylaw came into force on November 3 and educational material was being developed to help dog owners understand their responsibilities.
The bylaw is on the council website at: www.waitaki.govt.nz.
