Action against stray dogs

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 16

Action against stray dogs

The recent spate of killings of stock by stray dogs has emphasised anew the need for stronger laws to control the keeping of dogs. Most people will agree, some perhaps reluctantly, that farmers must exercise their legal right and shoot dogs they fear might worry or kill their stock. But the exercise of this right by individual farmers is not a satisfactory solution to the general problem of stray dogs.

Earlier this year a Parliamentary committee set about studying possible amendments to the Dogs Registration Act. Changes in the act cannot be expected this year, but it is a matter that should be given attention when the new Parliament meets. Among the steps being considered is one which promises to go some way to solving the problems posed by stray dogs. This is to require dog owners to secure a licence to keep dogs in addition to registering annually all the dogs they own. If such a licence were issued only when the local body was satisfied that the people applying had adequate accommodation for their dogs and were clearly able to care for them properly and keep them under adequate control at all times, the problems caused by stray dogs, killed stock among them, would diminish. Such licensing of dog owners would place an extra administrative burden on local bodies and might require an even

higher annual registration fee than dog owners pay at present. But responsible dog owners should not find some extra expense and a little extra trouble unbearably onerous when they reflect on the benefits that would follow. The dogs which cause trouble at present are generally dogs which are underfed, or not fed at all, or dogs which have been abandoned. Such neglect and carelessness is probably more horrifying to other dog owners than it is to members of the general public. Dog owners with any feeling for their pets or companions should accept gladly the occasional inspections and further expense of an owner-licensing system if it puts a stop to events which cast a bad light on all dogs and all dog owners.

The other main line of attack on the problem of stray dogs should be more severe penalties for dog owners who neglect or are careless about their dogs. The fine for allowing a dog to roam unattended should be more substantial than it ij today and local bodies should be rigorous in pressing prosecutions against dog owners who offend against the laws which require them to prevent their animals from being a nuisance or danger. The one thing local bodies can do to help control stray dogs is act firmly when a case is proved against a particular animal and its owner. They must be given wider powers to do this.