Neutering reprieve for dogs

Masterton District Council has defended its decision not to order pit bull dogs to be compulsorily neutered, as is the case in nearby Carterton.

Senior animal control officer Marie Johnston said the council decided it would be too difficult to enforce breed-specific neutering as sometimes it was difficult to define a dog's exact breed.

She said the council had complied with the Dog Control Act to order dogs classed as "menacing" - Japanese tosa, fila brasileiro, dogo argentino and American pit bull terrier - to be muzzled in public.

The law does not require all menacing dogs to be neutered or spayed, but it is left as an option by way of the act or through the creation of a bylaw.

Mrs Johnston said the Government seemed to recognise it would be unfair to force owners into the expense of neutering if their dogs were well behaved.

"If a dog was causing problems, irrespective of its breed or type, then it would be reasonable for the council to minimise any risk to the public."

Mrs Johnston said if any dog - not just pit bulls - displayed aggression or nuisance, officers could class them as "menacing" by deed and require them to be neutered.

Carterton has 16 pit bull or pit bull crosses registered that will have to be neutered under its new bylaw. Masterton has 80 dogs registered as pit bull or pit bull crosses and a further 28 dogs classified as "menacing".

- NZPA