Microchips in New Zealand

Dog laws get a bit more bite
The Marlborough Express

When associate Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta's dog microchipping law was passed last year it was seen by some as more of a nuisance than a solution to a serious problem, writes The Marlborough Express in an editorial.


Dog owners complained and even local governments labelled the changes to the Dog Control Act "inappropriate and unnecessary". The law was seen as a knee-jerk reaction to the vicious dog attack on seven-year-old Carolina Anderson four years ago.

Since its inception there have been several serious dog attacks, with one of the most horrifying being the mauling to death of Murupara woman Virginia Ohlson and the attack on Christchurch toddler Aotea Coxon. The young girl suffered severe injuries and underwent seven hours of facial surgery, which included having a plate inserted in her jaw and 290 stitches.

After the death of Mrs Ohlson, Prime Minister Helen Clark ordered a review into the dog control laws. Miss Clark said she wanted the review to focus on

designating more dogs as dangerous and menacing, focusing on cross-breeds such as the two that killed Mrs Ohlson as she walked to catch a bus. She also instructed Ms Mahuta and officials to examine ways to make local councils take a more active approach to designating individual dogs, regardless of their breed, as dangerous.

Now a government review has been released Ms Mahuta yesterday unveiled plans to strengthen the dog control laws. Theses include legislation requiring menacing dogs to be neutered.

The law will also simplify the process of adding more breeds to the import ban. The presa canario breed, not yet in New Zealand, would be banned from importation. Ms Mahuta says many councils already require the neutering of menacing breeds or types of dog but the legislation will make this

consistent nationwide. In addition to the breed-based classification, individual dogs can also be classified as menacing by councils.

Government will issue a

discussion document on the issue for consultation before the end of the year. Ideas being considered included: the addition of breeds of dog to dog control legislation; the mandatory destruction of dogs

classified as dangerous; and compulsory round-ups and/or faster destruction of unregistered dogs.

The New Zealand Veterinary Association disagrees with the new plans. The association believes that focusing on dog breeds and types is not the right approach to preventing dog attacks on people. It says that branding dogs as dangerous by breed or type ignores the fact that all dogs are potentially dangerous and aggressive behaviour in dogs is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

The new proposals will not eliminate attacks by dogs but will certainly give the current laws a bit more bite. Any law change needs to be accompanied by a drive to educate dog owners. A well-trained dog owner - regardless of what breed the dog is - is less of a menace to society than an untrained one.