Dog control bill ‘too severe’

Press, 4 June 1982, Page 4

Dog control bill ‘too severe’

The Dog Control Bill was “too severe" on dogs, the clean air and health committee of the Christchurch City Council was told yesterday. Representatives of Dog Control, a grbup of dog owners, made submissions on the bill to the committee, who later considered submissions from the dog liaison sub-commitee in committee. A spokesman for the group, Mrs E. L. Win, said that the bill was designed to control problems that could be caused by dogs, rather than;, the cause of the problems. Dog owners should be more responsible rather than having to “eliminate dogs” to “control dog problems. “The bill will only appease

dog haters and the authorities. It will not make respom sible owners. More pups and dogs will be abandoned by deliquent dog owners.” Mrs Win said. There was too much indiscrimate dog breeding. Incentives should be introduced to encourage spaying and neutering of dogs. Owners not wanting to spay their bitches should have sufficient accommodation for a bitch in season. Under the bill, unidentified dogs could be destroyed after spending four days at a pound. Mrs Win said that the time limit should remain at seven days to allow reasonable time for owners to locate and pick up their dogs.