Equal rights for bitches

Press, 22 February 1977, Page 6

Equal rights for bitches

A liberation movement for bitches was born at a meeting of the Christchurch City Council last evening.

In a discussion on new dog registration fees Cr Nancy Sutherland said it was unfair that the registration fee for unspayed bitches was higher than for spayed bitches while the fee for all male dogs was the same. “A little bit of male chauvinism is going on here,” she said. The new fees for the 1977/78 vear will be $5 for male dogs and spayed bitches and $7.50 for unspayed bitches. The fee

used to be a flat $2. Both of the new fees are subject to a further $8 hydatids control fee giving new combined fees of $l3 and $15.50,

For working dogs the combined fee is $lO for male dogs and spayed hitches and $12.50 for unspayed bitches.

Cr Sutherland wanted the council to show equality and charge a higher fee for entire dogs than for neutered ones but she was advised by Cr Newton Dodge that this was not possible under the new government legislation which had led to the changes.