Rules aim to reduce attacks
Proposed law changes could soon require owners of dangerous dogs to neuter them and provide at least one ‘‘dog free’’ entrance to their house.
The Government says it is introducing stricter controls for ‘‘dangerous and menacing dogs’’ in an attempt to reduce the rising number of dog attacks across the country.
In the Whangarei area there were 10 serious attacks this year which resulted in each of the offending dogs being put down.
In the Far North, 162 dog attacks were reported to the council for the year 2015/16. Animal control leader Ken Thompson says not all of these were considered serious attacks which would have resulted in prosecutions or the animals being put down. However 49 were on people.
Thompson says there were a range of dog breeds involved but there was a prevalence of ‘‘bulltype’’ crosses.
The proposed changes would apply to dogs designated as ‘‘a risk’’ by councils, as well as specific breeds already subject to strict controls like the American pit bull terrier, the Brazilian Fila, the Dogo Argentino, the Japanese Tosa, and the Perro de Presa Canario.
Owners of these high risk dogs will have to keep them in a fenced in area, display signs at the front of their property alerting people of the risk and put special collars on the dogs identifying them as dangerous.
In addition animal shelters would be prevented from adopting high risk dogs to new owners.
The SPCA has welcomed the requirement for high-risk dogs to be neutered and for ‘‘dog-free access’’ to a property saying these seemed sensible steps. But they oppose the proposed ban on rehousing certain breeds saying they would be sending thousands of innocent dogs to their deaths.
The NZ Veterinary Association also opposes any new law which would focus on specific breeds.
Spokesperson for NZVA Rochelle Fergusson says relying on breed specific laws to manage dog aggression will not work and ‘‘is counter to moves overseas.’’
She says the association supports neutering and public education but any ‘‘classification system should be based on dog behaviour - not breed.’’
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