Government wants all dogs microchipped

By AUDREY YOUNG

The Government will push ahead with plans for the microchipping of all dogs, opposing a select committee recommendation that only dangerous and stray dogs be microchipped for identification.

Local Government Minister Chris Carter told Parliament last night that the Government disagreed with some of the committee's changes to tougher dog control laws.

It will move amendments as the legislation goes through the House next week but is not yet guaranteed majority support.

The legislation is the Government's response to a series of dog attacks on children, in particular on 7-year-old Auckland girl Carolina Anderson.

It proposed universal microchipping to be phased in, but the select committee believed microchipping should be confined to dangerous, menacing and impounded dogs.

It said local councils could be given the power to have compulsory microchipping if they wanted.

Mr Carter said the Government believed the change to the bill was flawed.