Auckland Council's sounding the alarm over a rising number of dog attacks on sports fields after a young girl was left physically scarred

The victim was with her family on the sidelines of a football match when an unleashed dog attacked her at a Titirangi park last month.

Licensing and Compliance General Manager Robert Irvine says despite rules prohibiting dogs from most fields, attacks are rising.

He says they happen quickly when kids are running around and dogs are off-leash.