4:50pm
Prime Minister Helen Clark wants tough new laws to control dangerous dogs, and she is putting the legislation on a fast track through Parliament.
"It's clear that it is no longer satisfactory to have breeds known to be dangerous wandering the streets unleashed and unmuzzled," she said today.
"Something has to be done about it at the level of the law."
Miss Clark was speaking after meeting John Anderson, the father of a girl who suffered horrific injuries when she was attacked in an Auckland park on January 31.
Mr Anderson came to Parliament to plead for action, bringing with him photos of his seven-year-old daughter Carolina's wounds after she was savaged by an american staffordshire terrier .
"The photos are horrific, there's no other way to describe it," Miss Clark said.
Mr Anderson said he was happy with what he heard during his half-hour meeting with Miss Clark and Local Government Minister Chris Carter.
"I'll encourage her and parliamentarians in all parties to collaborate and ensure that there are speedy changes to the legislation," he said.
"It's maybe a living monument to her (Carolina) if we can see a really speedy and comprehensive change to the legislation."
Miss Clark said she felt the urgency of the situation.
Legislation already in the pipeline would be used and the process could start next week with Mr Carter working on amendments to be considered by a select committee.
"These have always been controversial issues," she said.
"I think that what has come out of this horrific attack is that people are motivated now on public safety concerns -- the knowledge that Carolina could have been dead, the knowledge that had it been a smaller child, that child probably would have been dead, and the knowledge that if John and the family had not been around their daughter would have been killed."
Mr Anderson, who met other politicians before going to the Beehive to see Miss Clark, said he wanted all the parties to get together and work as fast and effectively as possible to get new laws through.
"I don't know whether it's been turned into a political football at this stage. I hope that isn't the case," he said.
The Government tried to start the process in Parliament yesterday, but ACT and New Zealand First opposed the procedural tactics that House leader Michael Cullen had worked out.
ACT believed the Government wanted a "blank cheque" signed off by Parliament in a rush, while NZ First said the Government's plan of action was too slow.
NZ First MP Dail Jones wanted to circumvent the select committee process by placing the bill at the top of the order paper -- Parliament's agenda -- making it the first piece of legislation to be debated this year.
Mr Carter accused both the opposition parties of "petty politics" and last night the issue collapsed into a round of finger-pointing.
In Parliament today, Mr Carter said he had written to mayors of territorial authorities seeking feedback on the effectiveness of current legislation, and expected responses next week.
* Cabinet minister Lianne Dalziel told Parliament that ACC received 7978 dog bite claims in the year to June 2002, and the total cost for treatment, compensation and rehabilitation was $669,000.
- NZPA
Herald feature: When dogs attack
How you can help
A trust fund has been opened for 7-year-old dog attack victim Carolina Anderson. You can send a cheque to: Carolina Anderson Trust Account, BNZ, PO Box 46-294, Herne Bay, or donate over the internet to BNZ account number 020 248 000 3002-000.
The Herald is backing an appeal to raise money for a $150,000 operating-room microscope for Middlemore's plastic surgery unit. The microscope is essential in minute plastic surgery work such as reattaching nerves. Middlemore has two, used on Carolina Anderson and the victims of the Pipiroa sword attack, but they need replacing. Donations can be sent to: The Microsurgery Appeal, Editorial Department, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 706, Auckland.
