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

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