New research has revealed a concerning increase in the number of dog attacks.
Around 25,000 dog-related injuries are recorded each year - leaving hundreds of people in hospital. And the victims are often children.
Brendan Pyper knows first-hand what it's like to be the victim of an attack.
"I was in such a state of shock," he said. "It was a pretty traumatic experience."
He and his dog Blue were at a park in Auckland when they were attacked by another dog last August. Pyper said while the physical wounds have healed, the emotional toll has been the hardest to overcome.
"We still can't go to any dog parks. We just end up shaking if dogs rush over to us," he said.
New research has revealed there are around 25,000 dog-related injuries every year. Just under 3000 of those are to babies and children under the age of 14.
Natasha Duncan-Sutherland works as an emergency doctor and conducted the research.
"One-hundred-and-sixty children are hospitalised every year, that's just something that I think is unacceptable," she said.
Auckland Council figures reveal a similar trend. In Auckland between the end of 2021 and early 2022, there was a 67 percent increase in the number of roaming dogs.
Attacks on animals are up - by 31.5 percent. Attacks on people have also risen by 26.1 percent.
"Partly that would be due to the lack of de-sexing. There are still a shortage of vets, but also dogs just not being socialised," said Auckland Council Animal Management manager Elly Waitoa.
Both Waitoa and Duncan-Sutherland say low socio-economic areas record a higher number of incidents and legislation around dog ownership needs updating.
"The Dog Control Act - the last amendment was from 2003," Waitoa said. "I certainly think it should be opened for review."
Because even just one dog bite can leave a mark for life.
