Owners of dogs deemed high-risk will have to get them neutered and display warning signs on their property and the collar of their pet, under new law changes.

LISTEN ABOVE: Associate Minister for Local Government Louise Upston spoke to Larry Williams

Louise Upston, Associate Minister for Local Government, has announced the hardline measures as part of a new national action plan to reduce the number of dog attacks.

"I know first-hand the joy that dogs bring to your life and that there are thousands of loved family pets in New Zealand," she said.

"Unfortunately, the statistics clearly show that dog bite incidents are on the rise and children are overrepresented as victims."

The action plan includes Government funding of $850,000 to subsidise the neutering of high-risk dogs.

Law changes expected to be introduced in February will require owners of dangerous and menacing dogs to:

• Neuter all high-risk dogs.
• Keep high-risk dogs in a fenced area that allows visitors dog-free access to at least one house entrance.
• Put signs at the front of the property warning of high-risk dogs.
• Have dangerous and menacing dogs wear collars that identify them as high-risk.

Animal shelters will also be prevented from adopting out high-risk dogs to new owners - meaning they will likely need to be put down.

Two classifications of dogs will be considered high-risk:

• Dogs deemed dangerous after the owner has been convicted on an offence where the dog has rushed at a person or property causing injury or damage, or a council believes the dog is a threat to public safety.
• Dogs deemed menacing, because a council believes the animal will pose a threat to public safety because of its actions or its breed. If a dog is a cross-breed but a council believes it should be defined as one of the dangerous breed types it will be able be deemed as menacing.

Upston said she was also considering additional restrictions on the owners of high-risk dogs, but did not provide details of what these could be.

She also wants to improve the quality of information about dog attacks.

Dog control measures are highly controversial. Upston said the plan targeted high-risk dogs and their owners, rather than all dogs and owners.

- NZ Herald