KEY POINTS:
Microchipping of dogs is ineffective and may be putting people off registering their animals, say critics of the electronic control measure.
The claim is part of a new wave of criticism of Government dog-control measures after the mauling of 2-year-old Aotea Coxon last Sunday by a dog that escaped from a back yard in Christchurch.
National Party spokeswoman Sandra Goudie said the microchipping policy had failed and could be putting people off registering their dogs because of the extra cost.
But the Government says it is far too early to judge measures such as microchipping.
"Microchipping is for dogs which are newly registered, so it was always going to take time to phase in," said Prime Minister Helen Clark.
"It gives us, of course, a better database of what is considered a dangerous dog."
Figures on dog attacks are sketchy, but the Weekend Herald has obtained figures from the Accident Compensation Corporation that show the number of claims for dog bites is steadily increasing.
In Auckland, the number of claims for dog bites rose from 29, costing $54,000, in 1999-2000 to 62, costing $227,000, in 2006-07.
National figures for the same period rose from 101 claims costing $176,000 to 252 claims costing $836,000.
While the Government asked for patience on microchipping, Ms Goudie said, public safety was "the whole point of why they were introducing it".
She was awaiting an update from the Department of Internal Affairs on the effect of microchipping.
"It has increased the costs and processes, so it might just have tipped the balance in putting more people off registering and monitoring their dogs," she said.
New Zealand Kennel Club senior vice-president Martin Hewitt said microchipping would have little effect in controlling dangerous dogs.
"We fail to see how it is seriously going to effect a reduction in dog attacks," he said.
"Many of the dogs are unregistered anyway, and microchipping will do nothing to stop an attack."
Education about dogs was important, and the club promoted the idea of dog owners, rather than their dogs, being licensed.
Associate Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta said local councils throughout the country had welcomed a "whole suite" of new tools for dog control when they were introduced in 2003.
Penalties for irresponsible dog owners were also increased, to a maximum of three years in prison and a $20,000 fine, from three months and a $5000 fine.
Ms Mahuta said microchipping would improve councils' ability to track dogs to their owners and would therefore also improve safety.
The minister denied the Government was not doing enough to stop dog attacks.
"I think the strengthening of the Dog Control Act has helped councils to better manage the dog population. We want to continue to strengthen them."
At the end of this month, the Department of Internal Affairs will present a report on possible further measures to strengthen dog-control laws.
When and how
* Dogs over three months old - except some farm dogs - must be microchipped if they have been impounded twice, or once if they are unregistered.
* Other dogs can be microchipped if the owner wishes.
* The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted into the scruff of the dog's neck.
* The chip contains a number identifying the dog. This number can be checked through the National Dog Database.
