DOG-DOSING FEE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29146, 5 March 1960, Page 12

DOG-DOSING FEE

No Exemptions To Be Made

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 4. • Provision for dosing of dogs bv veterinary surgeons instead o’f by hydatid control officers of local authorities is made in the Hydatids Act, but dog owners choosing this alternative must still pay any hydatid control fee prescribed for their area by the local authority or the National Hydatids Council, says the council in a supplied statement in reply to a question raised at its recent meeting. “It was quite obvious.” says the statement “that if a determined attack w’ere to be made on hydatids disease, expenditure would be involved in setting up a scheme, in training officers to be appointed by local bodies, on research and administration, and on equipment The council is convinced that success can be attained with the campaign now under way, with dosing carried out by local authorities or organisations whose schemes have been approved by the counciL

The Hydatids Act provides for a national control and eradication scheme under which the cost is distributed as equitably as possible. “The sendees provided by local authorities under the Act include education to dog owners in hydatid eradication principles checking offal disposal, control of dogs, dosing dogs, and sending samples to the national testing station for report. I “If those having their dogs ! treated by veterinary surgeons i were exempted, because a part of 1 the service is carried out by priIvate veterinary surgeons, from bearing their share of the general costs of the scheme, others would have to bear a greater share, or the financing of the national scheme could be seriously affected. “If a dog is not well, presentation of a certificate from a veterinary surgeon of unfitness to be treated for hydatids will exempt the owner from presenting his dog for treatment during the period specified. “Hydatid disease will yield only to total war,” says the council. . “It was essential to ensure that a ■ complete picture of the health of the whole dog population should be secured. With cooperation and understanding from dog owners there would seem to be excellent prospects of rapid progress with the national scheme : conducted by the authorities approved by the council, with reasonable alternatives for those choosing to have veterinary surgeons treat their dogs.”