8 April 2005
Dog Chipping Bill Makes Sense
Federated Farmers strongly supports a members' bill tabled yesterday that would exempt farm dogs from compulsory
microchipping, said Charlie Pedersen, Vice President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc).
Under a law passed last year, all dogs first registered after July 1 2006 must be implanted with a microchip.
"Federated Farmers has always been convinced that microchipping dogs, especially farm dogs, is a waste of time and
money. The estimated cost of microchipping rural dogs has been put at $3 million to $7 million a year," Mr Pedersen
said.
"Microchipping will not stop dog attacks. Rather than aid identification of dogs that attack, the added cost of
microchipping will further discourage people from registering their dogs -- increasing non-compliance. Already, nearly
one out of two dog owners don't register their dogs.
"The Minister of Local Government agrees with Federated Farmers that microchip scanners have a maximum range of only 5
cm. Any thought of reading the chip of a dog while attacking farm stock is a pipe dream," Mr Pedersen said.
"Farmers will be pleased that enforced microchipping of farm dogs will be reconsidered by Parliament -- assuming the Dog
Control (Exemption of Farm Dogs) Amendment Bill tabled by National Agriculture spokesman David Carter is pulled from the
ballot."
ENDS