24 March 2006
Positive Meeting on Dog Chipping
Federated Farmers has had a positive meeting with the Associate Minister of Local Government about the microchipping of
dogs, said Charlie Pedersen, President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand.
“A Federation delegation met Hon Nanaia Mahuta yesterday to explain the reasons why working dogs should be exempted from
the legal requirement for all dogs first registered after July 1 to be microchipped.
“The minister gave a good hearing to the Federation’s concerns,” Mr Pedersen said.
“Farmers are opposed to microchipping as it is another cost on the business of farming for no benefit. Microchipping
will not stop dog attacks and rather than aid identification of dogs that attack, the added cost of microchipping will
further discourage people from registering their dogs -- increasing non-compliance.
“If farmers were to comply with the microchipping legislation, more than 60,000 farm dogs would need to be chipped each
year at a cost of $3-$7 million,” Mr Pedersen said.
“We appreciate that the minister’s objective is to develop a policy that will balance the interests of all who want
better dog control. But the Federation believes that this balance will remain if working dogs are exempted from the
chipping rule.
“The Federation remains hopeful that the minister and her Cabinet colleagues will amend the Dog Control Amendment Act to
give an exemption to working dogs,” Mr Pedersen said.
ENDS