New Zealand Kennel Club Inc
Te Runanga Matua, Take Kuri o Aotearoa
Media Release 31 October 2007
No instant fixes on dog control
New Zealand Kennel Club chief executive Brian Priest says the best part of the announcement by Hon Nanaia Mahuta is that
it indicates that responsible dog ownership is going to get the ongoing attention of Government.
“Today’s news was never going to be an instant fix for dog control problems, but it is a beginning,” said Brian Priest.
“Previous Ministers over many years have approached dog issues thinking that they only needed to ‘do something’ and they
could then forget about dogs for a couple of years. That was the wrong course.
“New Zealand Kennel Club says that responsible dog owners and their pets deserve to be part of their community. To
achieve that, the right environment is needed and that comes in part from ongoing engagement by Government and by local
Councils.
“It is obvious that Nanaia Mahuta has worked hard to announce a more workable and enforceable framework today. Equally
she is signalling that this is a beginning but not an end,” said Brian Priest
New Zealand Kennel Club welcomes:
- Government’s desire for national consistency
- Better data about dog safety and control
- Potential requirement for licencing of owners
- Recognition that four factors are important: good law, effective enforcement, community support, and responsible
dog ownership
The New Zealand Kennel Club says more emphasis is needed on getting more owners involved in education, including its
Canine Good Citizen programme.
The proposal to consider adding more breeds to the ‘banned list’ will not be a solution. The 2003 ‘banning’ of the
American put bull terrier only lead to dogs being registered under other labels, and consideration of ‘banning’ other
breeds will only worry owners of quality purebred dogs.
ENDS