Dog Control Act 1996

Obligations of owner

60: Seizure or destruction of dog running at large among stock or poultry

You could also call this:

"What happens if a dog is running loose near your farm animals"

If you own stock or poultry and a dog is running loose among them, you can ask someone to stop the dog. You, your worker, or a police officer can catch or stop the dog. If someone other than a dog control officer catches the dog, they must give it back to its owner or give it to a dog control officer. This rule helps keep your stock or poultry safe from dogs that are running loose.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on 19 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM375418.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyHousing and property > Land use

59: Seizure or destruction of dog at large in vicinity of protected wildlife, or

"What happens if your dog is loose near protected animals"

61: Orders relating to dog seen worrying stock, or

"What happens if your dog worries farm animals and you don't control it"

60Seizure or destruction of dog running at large among stock or poultry

The owner of any stock or poultry or that owner's agent or employee, or any constable, dog control officer, or dog ranger acting at the request of that owner, may forthwith either seize or destroy any dog running at large among that stock or poultry.
Where, under subsection (1), a dog is seized by any person other than a dog control officer or dog ranger, that person shall ensure that the dog is returned to its owner or delivered into the custody of a dog control officer or dog ranger.

Compare

1982 No 42 s 59