Fence dog not home

By HELEN TUNNAH

Dog owners will not have to build expensive fences around their homes under proposed law changes, says Local Government Minister Chris Carter.

Instead, they would need to ensure dogs were contained so there was dog-free access to their houses.

Working dogs such as sheepdogs and guide-dogs would be exempt.

Mr Carter this week announced a raft of measures aimed at dealing with roaming or unleashed dogs.

He cited the problems emergency and welfare workers have gaining access to houses as one reason controls were urgently needed.

When Child, Youth and Family staff tried to visit West Auckland's Columbus Academy, where a Japanese student had been killed, they faced three ferocious rottweilers.

The welfare workers had to call police, who shot the dogs.

"The owner can decide how big a run they want, whether they want it to be the whole backyard or a portion of it," he said.

Mr Carter said present laws already required dogs to be adequately contained.

Dogs allowed to roam could be impounded and destroyed. He hopes the new rules will be in place this year.