SPCA sympathises with the victims of dog bites and acknowledges that dog attacks are a major societal problem that require a serious and effective long-term solution.

The causes of dog aggression and bites are complex and multifactorial. SPCA supports evidence-based, early-intervention and prevention strategies to reduce dog bites and create safer communities.

Legislation to deal with dog bite incidents should be preventative and evidence-based in its approach and avoid indiscriminate, disproportionate impacts. Current New Zealand dog control legislation does not effectively support dog control or encourage safer communities.

SPCA advocates for a national data base to record accurate data on dog bite incidents.

Accurate data is important for informing the development and monitoring of initiatives to reduce dog bites. SPCA supports the mandatory reporting of dog bite incidents which includes objective scoring of the injury, the context of the incident, the size and breed of the dog (if confirmed), the age and gender of the person involved and their relationship to the animal.

Inaccurate or inflammatory media reporting of dog bites can reinforce myths and serve as a barrier to effective, evidence-based legislation and dog safety initiatives. Any dog has the capacity to bite - both dogs that are known or unknown to the victim. Research has shown that 40% of media reports misidentified the dog breed involved, reinforcing stigmatising stereotypes and creating a false sense of security by categorising dogs into ‘safe’ or ‘not safe’ by physical appearance.

SPCA advocates for evidence-based dog safety education.

Evidence-based dog safety education for both children and adults can contribute to safer communities. Dog safety education should address interactions with both dogs in the household and unknown dogs and provide information on avoiding and safely managing risky situations.

SPCA supports education initiatives that promote responsible dog ownership, understanding of dog behaviour, appropriate and respectful interactions with dogs and that help to dispel myths and misconceptions that may lead to unsafe interactions.

SPCA advocates for depictions of children and dogs in advertising to model safe, appropriate and supervised interactions.

Positive portrayals of children and dogs in advertising can help educate children and families about how to behave around dogs in a respectful and safe manner. Images depicting children and dogs in unsafe situations can normalise inappropriate or dangerous behaviour.