Dog controls questioned

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Re: ‘We can’t keep shooting dogs’, August 12 Weekender story and the public deposition at Rangiwaho Marae, Muriwai by Warwick Stevens.

Warwick and other farmers were dissatisfied by the increase in the number of wandering and worrying dogs plus the lack of action from animal control — who should realise Warwick is their best ally in this area.

One comment was that a worrying dog was caught and tied up (sure, the ability to destroy the dog forthwith was then lost) BUT the dog should have been impounded and held until legal proceedings were instituted against the owner, with an application to have the dog destroyed plus costs to reimburse the owner of the stock . . . instead the dog was returned to its owner, it worried stock again, plus the owner knowingly hid the dog.

Animal control staff shot dozens of dogs that were worrying stock prior to 2011.

The Act hasn’t changed since I shot three American bulldogs/pitbulls which were worrying stock and was threatened by the Mongrel Mob. I was instituting legal proceedings but my bosses stopped this (go figure).

Things such as property checks are not happening. Every urban  and rural classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, by action, triggers higher fees etc.

All the above is contrary to what the council is saying.

Instead of just restricting areas for dogs in the city, the policy should help farmers who pay the bulk of the dog registration fees.

Pat Collins