A Choice No Owner Should Face: Havelock North Man Fears He Must Euthanise 16-Year-Old Dog Over Noise Complaints

By Lions Roar Aotearoa News

HAVELOCK NORTH, NEW ZEALAND (Friday, January 23, 2026) — A heartbroken dog owner in Havelock North says he feels backed into a corner by a flurry of neighbourhood complaints and council fines, fearing he may have to euthanise his senior pet to prevent him from being seized.

Dean Sewell, who has lived in his home for 15 years, is locked in a bitter dispute with the Hastings District Council over his 16-year-old rescue Fox Terrier, Dan. The situation has reached a breaking point, with Sewell now resorting to locking the elderly dog in his garage to avoid a forced removal.

🐾 14 Years of Companionship Under Threat

The conflict began about a year ago, coinciding with new neighbours moving into the area. Since then, the council has received 23 complaints from six different sources regarding Dan’s barking.

Separation Anxiety: Sewell admits Dan barks for 15 to 20 minutes when he leaves for work but insists the dog sleeps for the rest of the day. “He’s old, he gets tired fast… he just gets a bit anxious when I leave,” Sewell explained.
Efforts to Comply: Sewell has tried numerous solutions, including:
- Leaving a radio on for company.
- Using a bark-reducing collar.
- Providing garage access.
- Dropping notes to neighbours to find a resolution.
The “Warzone” Factor: Sewell notes that during some peak complaint periods, heavy industrial drilling for new street infrastructure was taking place right outside his home, which he believes would cause any dog to bark.

⚖️ Council Fines and Seizure Threats

Despite Sewell’s efforts, the legal pressure has mounted. He has already been hit with a $200 fine for failing to comply with an abatement notice.

The most recent notice, issued on January 14, carried a devastating ultimatum: Dan must be removed from the property, or Sewell must lodge a formal objection by January 21. While Sewell has lodged his objection, the uncertainty is taking a toll.

“I don’t have any family here to take him and realistically, he probably has only six months to a year to live,” Sewell said. “I don’t want him to live those days locked in the garage because that’s what I have resorted to doing so he’s not taken away.”

📊 Hastings District Animal Control: By the Numbers

Category	Stats (Past 12 Months)
Barking Complaints (Total)	619
Roaming Dogs Impounded	669
Dogs Removed from Properties	1 (in the past 5 years)
Complaints against Dan	23 (from 6 sources)

💬 The Council’s Stance

A spokesperson for the Hastings District Council maintains that their officers have observed the property three times to verify that the complaints are “genuine.” While they acknowledge Sewell’s efforts to quiet the dog, they say the matter has continued to escalate.

Sewell, however, feels harassed and frustrated by the anonymity of the complainants, stating he cannot fix a problem if he doesn’t know the exact “what and when” of the alleged noise.