Tauranga dog catchers will be recommending the council change the bylaw to be able to order de-sexing of dangerous dog breeds when the dog control bylaw is reviewed later this year.

The city council doesn't have the power to ban a particular type or breed of dog, says council animal services team leader Brent Lincoln. Only central government can do that.

Council is going to be called upon to de-sex dangerous dog breeds. File photo.

But some dog breeds are more likely to attack people than most other breeds, says Brent.

'Because of the impact these types of dogs have on society, we will be recommending in the Dog Control Bylaw review that dogs classified as menacing by breed must be de-sexed.”

These dogs include the American Pitt Bull Terrier, Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario.

A pit bull isn't a specific breed; the legislation describes it as a 'type” of dog and refers to any dog that is wholly or predominantly of the Pitt Bull type.

'De-sexing at an early age generally lowers the aggression in a dog and leads to a healthier dog with fewer issues,” says Brent.

'Reducing dog attacks is not as simple as banning a particular breed.”

Before pit bulls became popular, breeds such as the rottweiler, german shepherd and doberman featured highly in the statistics for attacks on people, says Brent.

'Banning one breed would inevitably lead some people to choose another dominant breed of dog. It would also lead to owners trying to hide their pit bulls, which would in turn lead to less socialisation and exercise and a more aggressive dog.”

Tauranga City Council says education is the key to ensuring community safety, while allowing people to enjoy the benefits of owning a dog. The Animal Control team assists with information about caring for and controlling dogs, and bite prevention and safety.

'We are also developing an education programme aimed at primary school children that focuses on how they should act around dogs and how to avoid being bitten,” says Brent.

'What dog owners should understand is that all dogs can bite and cause injury. Owners must take necessary precautions to avoid these situations: put your dog in a separate area when visitors arrive; don't allow children and dogs to interact unsupervised; don't answer the door while your dog is loose in the house; ensure your dog can't roam; and walk your dog on a lead when other people or animals are present.”

Of the last 39 attacks on people recorded in Tauranga, five were by Pitt Bulls, five by Border Collies, four by Neapolitan Mastiffs, four by Bull Terriers and three by Maltese Terriers.

Of the 33 prosecutions taken by Council since May 2010, 39.4 per cent of the dogs involved were American Pitt Bull Terriers; 18 per cent were Staffordshire Bull Terriers; 15 per cent were Bull Terriers; 9 per cent were Labrador Retrievers and 6 per cent were Shar Peis.