Small dogs attacked by other dogs have their legal rights

Press, 19 December 1988, Page 18

Small dogs attacked by other dogs have their legal rights

How often have you been strolling out quietly with your small dog when a much larger dog rushes out from a property, bares his teeth menacingly and seems about to attack?

It is a scary experience for both owner and small dog — but sickening if the big dog does attack, as often happens. The result can be nasty wounds which usually become infected, causing pain and an expensive visit to the vet.

Little dogs, it seems, are fair game to some of the larger, fiercer breeds. But what can be done about it?

Owners of dogs attacked by other dogs should know they are within their legal rights to ask the other dog owner to pay any resulting vet fees.

Under Section 61 of the Dog Control and Hydatids Act, the owner of an attacking dog — whether it injures another dog, cat, fowls or other property — is liable to pay damages. This applies even if the attack is a first offence. Mike Shaw, the dog control supervisor with the Christchurch City Council, suggests talking to the dog owner about the vet’s fee. If the owner refuses to pay, civil action may have to be taken. With more people owning dogs as a security measure, dog attacks on dogs are becoming more common. “This type of complaint is all too frequent,” says Mike Shaw. He also suggests the injured party write a brief description of the incident, stating where, when and what happened, and post it in to his office.

Council staff will then arrange to visit the dog owner and warn him or her of their liabilities under the bylaws. A subsequent attack by their dog could lead to a fine of up to $5OO, the dog deemed dangerous and muzzled.

Dog owners should also know that their pets

should be “under effective and continuous control” in a public place, says Mike Shaw — “This means on a leash.” Human Rights video The Human Rights Commission now has a video explaining its work and illustrating some of the kinds of complaints it receives. There is a dramatisation of discrimination against a young woman wanting to become a motor mechanic, for instance. Other examples are a woman denied promotion because of her sex and young male students being discriminated against when looking for accommodation. All aspects of the commission’s work are looked at, from formal complaints procedures to its education role. The commission’s commitment to the partnership principles of the Treaty' of Waitangi are stressed, as is the accessibility of the commission to those with complaints. The 25-minute video, suitable for a wide range of groups, has written material to go with it. “A Fair Go For All” costs $3O or can be borrowed from the library in Auckland. Other videos for loan are on women in non-traditional work, equal opportunity and affirmative action in the workplace, men’s issues and sexual harassment. Write to the Human Rights Commission, P.O. Box 6751, Wellesley Street, Auckland. For a full list of videos available contact the nearest Human Rights office. Health groups The Auckland cervical cancer inquiry brought home forcibly how important it is for consumers to have a say in health services and treatment. Now that the whole structure of our health services are undergoing change under an area health'board, it is in the

interests of consumers to monitor the situation and to make sure their health needs will be met.

Papanui residents have led the way in this in setting up a health care committee. The group hopes it is the first of many.

The Papanui Health Care Committee will meet this evening at the Paparoa Street School library, at 7.30 to talk about the new health system. All interested residents are invited. For more information, phone Moira Tilling at 554-754.

Family help The Home and Family Society has noticed a big increase in family hardship this year, issuing food vouchers at twice the rate of last year — and only to families interviewed by the society’s social workers. The society is a voluntary organisation helping families in need. As well as providing material

help, it runs an emergency house for homeless families and offers free counselling.

Three times a year the society organises a big garage sale, which brings in most of its funding.

There are always eager buyers for a variety of goods, but mainly for good quality household items which they cannot afford to buy new. These include clothes, furniture,

china, candle holders, trays, lidded food containers, pots, vases, glassware, cutlery, garden or hand tools, books and toys. Anyone wanting these items taken off their hands and sold for a good cause can phone the society at 795-645 to arrange collection. If preferred, they can be brought in to the office at 53 Cathedral Square, next to Chancery Lane.

The society is always seeking donations and offers of voluntary work.

Phone 795-645 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Simply sharing

Jill Wilcox has been taking her “Simply Shar-ing-Collections of a Magpie” programme around Christchurch and its surrounding areas for many years. The programme of song, poetry and story can be used for celebrations, or simply to foster warmth and communication among people. Jill visits hospitals, homes, schools and community groups, adapting her programme to each audience’s needs.

Jill apologises to people who have been trying to contact her during recent months. She has been in Wellington. She can now be contacted at 886-628. Cancerline

The telephone information and counselling service of the Cancer Society has been going for more than a year now.

Twenty-two trained counsellors share the job of answering a wide range of calls. In many cases they can allay fears after a diagnosis of cancer. They also offer follow-up contact with volunteers from the Cancer Society Centre, at 246 Manchester Street. Cancerline’s number is 795-835. Gestalt

Dissatisfaction in life can either pull you down or it can be seen as a generator, creating energy for a change for the better, says the gestalt therapist, Rudolf Jarosewitsch.

Rudolf will be holding a gestalt awareness workshop from Monday, January 23, to Friday, January 27. This will be at the Goethe Society Room in the Arts Centre, from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The fee is $l5O.

Anyone interested can phone Rudolf at 851-166 or at 662-085, or write to the Gestalt Centre, P.O. Box 1874, Christchurch.

A training group for those wanting to use gestalt in their work will be held on Thursday mornings from February 16 to May 4. This will be a mixture of learning by direct experience, watching arid processing. The fee is $2BO if paid before January 27. Holiday film “The Great Muppet Caper,” with Kermit, Miss Piggy and all the other popular Muppet characters, will be shown at the Fernland Cinema during January. This will screen at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. from January 16 until January 27. The cost is $2.50 for children and $4.50 for adults. The Fernland Cinema specialises in wholesome, family films. It is upstairs at 56 Cathedral Square, next to the Savoy Cinema.

Eating disorders The Anorexia and Bulimia Aid Group has moved to the Cranmer Centre, on the corner of Montreal and Armagh Streets. The phone number is 667-725. The office is open between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. Appointments are necessary. The office will be closed from December 23 until January 3, and again from January 9 to 24. —Compiled by Glenys Walker There will be no column for two weeks. The next Making It Happen will run on Monday, January 9. Please send items to Glenys Walker, Making It Happen, Home and People Page, “The Press,” Private Bag, Christchurch.