Council will prosecute dog owners when necessary

The potential for dogs to be destroyed where they are found to have attacked other animals or people underlines the need for dog owners to maintain effective control over their pets.

Queenstown Lakes District Council has issued that warning following the conviction of a woman in the Queenstown District Court yesterday on two charges laid under the Dog Control Act. Her dog attacked another dog at Frankton beach in May 2014. She has been remanded for sentence in April.

Regulatory Manager Lee Webster said prosecutions such as this were regrettable but entirely preventable.

“Our primary goal is to educate not prosecute dog owners about their responsibilities, but we won’t hesitate to take strong action to protect residents and their pets or livestock. Public safety is the number one priority, and dog owners need to have their dogs under control at all times”.

Mr Webster encouraged the public to call the Council whenever they see wandering or aggressive dogs, and said that animal control staff would respond swiftly.

“We have a much better chance of catching the dogs and identifying their owners if we hear about incidents when they happen.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media