NSW dog attacks surge: Northern Beaches, Wollongong see concerning rise, councils left scrambling

Nearly 100 dog attacks were reported to NSW councils every week last year, as the number of violent incidents surged across the state.

New figures from the NSW Office of Local Government reveal councils recorded 5091 dog attacks in 2024 — a 5.5 per cent jump on the 4823 logged the year before.

Blacktown and Shoalhaven once again topped the list, though both saw slight drops. Blacktown recorded 334 attacks in 2024, down from 342, while Shoalhaven’s tally fell from 320 to 265.

But other regions saw worrying increases. The Northern Beaches reported 261 attacks last year — up sharply from 182 in 2023 — while Wollongong climbed from 171 to 231.

A Blacktown City Council spokesman said its figures needed to be seen in context, The Daily Telegraph reported.

“Blacktown City has the largest population of any council area in NSW, with 450,000 residents and one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the state,” he said.

“In per capita context, the number of reported dog attacks in Blacktown is comparable to others. Council takes dog attacks seriously — our rangers investigate every report, take regulatory action where required and provide education material to owners.”

A Northern Beaches Council spokeswoman said its focus was on encouraging reporting and boosting public education.

“With more than 60,000 dogs, the northern beaches area has the largest registered dog ownership in NSW,” she said.

“Council’s main priority is safety and actively encourages members of the public to report dog attacks so they can be investigated.

“We hold regular education programs, including daytime pop-up events at off-leash dog parks and evening information nights on responsible pet ownership. Rangers also regularly patrol parks and reserves to increase community awareness.”