3 May 2006

One law for dogs

The Green Party has drafted an amendment to the Local Government Law Reform Bill that will abolish compulsory microchipping for dogs. Green Party MP Metiria Turei, who is a member of the Local Government and Environment select committee, will give notice on Thursday that she intends to move the motion and expects there will be majority support on the committee for such a move.

"We understand the National Party has also proposed a similar amendment and we are happy to compare notes with them to draft the best law possible to see compulsory microchipping of dogs scrapped.

"We are taking a principled and proactive stand on this issue and will not prefer one group of people or dogs over another. Compulsory microchipping of dogs is not going to protect the vulnerable from dog attacks. So, instead of favouring the farm border collie over Grandma's poodle, we propose to abolish compulsory microchipping for dogs altogether.

"If the committee, made up of four Labour MPs, four National MPs and myself, passes the amendment, as I expect, it will be reported back to the House. There it will depend on United Future's three votes. If they believe what they are saying about farm dogs, they can achieve this, and more, by voting for our amendment," Mrs Turei says.

The Green Party amendment would continue the use of microchip transponders for dangerous or menacing dogs.

Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says: "We hope that compulsory microchipping will be gone from our law books by the middle of the year. There is just no need to impose this unnecessary and expensive procedure on dogs and dog owners."

"We asked the Government to demonstrate clear and compelling arguments that microchipping will prevent dog attacks, but their evidence was unconvincing. Compulsory microchipping simply cannot be justified and we won't support it.

ENDS

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