Editorial: Don't bark up wrong tree

For beasts commonly referred to as man's best friend, dogs certainly cause some anxiety in society. Fears over attacks on people and animals tend to spark a frenzy of calls to ban particular breeds and put restrictions on movement of people with canine companions.

But what often happens whenever the issue of out-of-control dogs emerges is the debate becomes more one of emotion and less one of dealing in facts and rational thought.

Dog lovers and those not inclined towards canine companionship tend to square off with a lack of understanding that we are dealing with essentially wild animals that have been domesticated. They are intelligent and able to be trained to perform all manner of tasks, but there resides in their genetic makeup a base instinct from the past that occasionally manifests itself in an aggressive or violent way.

Luckily, there has not been an over-reaction to this week's reports of attacks on birdlife in Castlecliff. Several birds have been maimed and killed in the area in a series of vicious attacks. It would be all too easy to lay the blame on all dogs, but clearly this is a case involving one or more rogue animals that have a blood lust. The authorities have rightly acknowledged there is a problem of roaming dogs in the area and asked for assistance to catch the offending animal or animals.

Wanganui District Council has boosted patrols in the area, which is the least the residents deserve. It would, though, be unduly costly to send a mass of officers on to the streets in the hope of catching the canine killers in action.

No one can dispute the comfort a pet companion can offer, nor the benefits to society dogs bring through acting as our eyes and ears, sniffing out drugs and explosives or in searching for missing persons.

The problem with knee-jerk reactions to random attacks is that any calls for increased penalties or stricter monitoring of dog owners come at a cost that is usually borne by the responsible dog owners, not those whose animals - we shouldn't refer to them as pets, for they are anything but - cause the problems.

WAKA MISSED OPPORTUNITY

The so-called plastic waka is set for its long-awaited moment in the spotlight.

At a cost of $2 million, the 74.8m long Waka Maori opens to visitors today for an 11-day season at Viaduct Harbour on Auckland's waterfront.

An entertainment centre in and around it on Te Whero Island will show Maori bands, kapa haka and traditional instruments, a daily celebration of Maori rugby, as well as an artisans' village of carvers and weavers, and Maori business promotions.

While it is fantastic to showcase our culture to the world, the choice of what many have described as the Tupperwaka was not met by universal approval. Now questions must be asked as to why it wasn't ready earlier.