Chance for every dog to have its day

Toy poodle Tiff showed off her acrobatic skills during the national agility dog competition in Porirua. Despite the effortless low-flying pose, the three-year-old managed just fifth place in the final round of the championships yesterday.

She was out-pointed by Chelsea Marriner's Bay of Plenty sheepdog, Spy, who won the starters section.Spy also liked working with sheep.

"We ran her in the sheepdog trials at the Morrinsville A&P Show earlier this year and she finished 10th," Miss Marriner said.

Tiff lives with owner Jane Norton in a household of seven dogs including three golden retrievers and three other toy poodles in Blenheim.

The overall open section winner in the 140-dog weekend competition, which pitted dogs against each other in a series of agility tests, was Lisa Duff's five-year-old North Canterbury heading dog, Zoom.

A dog day out

Canterbury's Press-reading pooches had a dog day afternoon at Canterbury Agricultural Park yesterday.

The Press Dogs' Day Out returned for the TV2 KidsFest this year with traditional competitions such as doggie limbo, tallest dog, shortest dog, longest tail and most interesting name.

New competitions set dogs the task of fetching a rolled-up Press newspaper and Pimp your Pooch.

Jo Hamilton, of Mt Pleasant, took her two children and their whippet-cross along for the day.

"It's just a bit of fun for the kids and they just loved it," she said.

Entertainment included demonstrations from the Alaskan Malamute Dog Club and sheep dog trials.

The KidsFest continues until Friday.

The School of the Naked Dog Team were there in full swing. They did the Ring 111 Challenge where two teams of 5 owners/dogs had to carry a cup of water to the burning dog house.

Great turn out. Too bad that the arms defenders squad were there. Great helicopters skills, but did they really need to scare the kids with their machine guns??

I thought that the helicopter was going to demonstrate dog rescue ... wasn't the day for kids and dogs?!

Man's best friend shows his muscle

Dog owners raced two kilometres through Bottle Lake Forest on Saturday as part of an event that copies sled-dog competitions held in icier climes.

The competitors were part of the 2km Canicross competition, where participants are strapped to their dog by a leash and run through the forest for the finish line. Marcus King, of Christchurch, won the race with his siberian husky, Oscar.

The Canicross event is based on one run in the northern hemisphere where competitors race over ice and snow.

It was part of the Canterbury Sled Dog Club's Double Banger race weekend, which attracted about 50 competitors from around the South Island and about 150 dogs. MORE>>

Cats and dogs for half-price

Auckland's SPCA has come up with a recession-beating deal.

It is overflowing with cats and dogs and is offering half-price adoption fees this weekend for anyone who can offer a good home to a rescue kitten or dog.

Executive director Bob Kerridge says because of the fairly mild autumn, cats have had a third litter this year. The situation with dogs, is that more owners are surrendering them because of the recession.

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Snow dogs keep skiers safe at Mount Hutt

Caught in an avalanche and buried in snow, the sight of a dogs paws and face would bring overwhelming relief.

Mount Hutt's three brave rescue dogs: labs Ben, owned by Rob Teasdale, Ayla, the naughtiest of the three, and Ernie, the excitable American import receive constant training. A good rescue dog has a strong play drive and while they think it's just a game, their trainers know better.

To get them up to speed, their volunteer handlers spend hours every day developing the dogs' rescue skills.

Every second counts..... MORE>>

We'll be going skiing soon. I hope I won't need these guys, but if I do, I'll be glad to see a wet nose if anything happened..

Capture of pack leader brings end to dog attacks

A vicious dog believed to be the ringleader in a string of fatal animal maulings in Orakei has been locked up.

Dog control officers found a brindle-coloured un-neutered male staffordshire bull terrier roaming the suburb’s streets on July 2 and impounded it.

"There have been no incidents since then so although there are other dogs involved, this dog might have been the dominant dog," Auckland City Council animal contracts manager Clare Connell says.

Since May 29 Animal Control Services has received reports of five cats, two chickens and a rabbit killed by dogs in the area. Other cats have been reported injured or missing, horses were chased on Kepa Rd and people have been knocked over by dogs. MORE>>

Pencarrow dog ban could be permanent

A dog ban on the Pencarrow Coast Road could become permanent.

A total dog ban is currently in place only during the lambing season, August to September. It was imposed after a series of attacks on stock in the area.

Hutt City Council had considered a total ban prior to holding a trial ban in 2008.

John Martin, who farms in the area, told the council that he did not favour a total ban as the area is a popular with walkers and he believed dog owners should be able to use it if they are responsible.

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No room for Fido

Families heading away for the school holidays who want to take their dog with them could struggle to find somewhere to stay.

Although countries like the United Kingdom and the United States are going to ever-increasing lengths to accommodate holidaymakers' pets, even offering fine dining canine menus and pet-only airlines, New Zealand is bucking the trend.

Pauline Wagner, the author of New Zealand's only pet travel guide, says ever since seven-year- old Auckland girl Carolina Anderson was attacked by a roaming dog in a park in 2003, accommodation providers have become more reluctant to allow dogs.

Now isn't that a shame... dogs in new zealand are no longer welcome.

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There used to be almost 800 accommodation providers willing to accept pets. Now, she says, there are around 500. "We're not nearly as dog-friendly as they are in the UK."

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The group's Monkbar hotel, in York, advertises walks for dogs depending on whether they have short, medium-sized or long legs and the Dower House hotel offers rooms with direct access to the gardens.

Virgin Atlantic offers frequent- flier schemes for pets and a new US airline, Pet Airways, launches next month just for pets.

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Wagner's Complete Pet Travel Guide 2009 will be available from September at selected veterinary clinics and book shops. It can also be ordered online at www.pettravel.netaccess.co.nz

For those living in Christchurch, we offer Homestays for Dogs... one dog at a time :)

Cheers for the ears, Fido

Less well known, but equally important to those who own them are New Zealand's hearing dogs for the deaf; an extremely special group of canines trained in our very own region.

Hearing dogs are specially trained to listen for the everyday sounds that people who are deaf cannot hear, such as smoke/fire alarms, alarm clocks, people knocking on the door or using the doorbell, telephones and faxes ringing, baby-cry monitors and portable timers.

Every time a hearing dog hears one of these sounds - at home, at work or when they and their owner are just out and about - they gently paw their human companions (recipients) to let them know theyve heard it.

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Equally amazing dogs are the Mobility Dogs. They do everything from pick you your TV remote, to finding your keys, opening the fridge, and the best thing is to provide company, and to help foster friendship outside of the house. That, of course, goes for all people with a disability. Dogs help bond people together.

Cat starts blaze, dog saves family

A pitbull named Jack can expect to be treated to the best dog roll for life after saving a Northland family from a devastating house fire.

Two adults and three children fled their blazing home on State Highway 12, 5km east of Kaikohe, about 8.30pm on Tuesday after being alerted by Jack's barking and pawing at the back door.

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He believed the family cat, Bubbles, had knocked over a candle left burning after the children had taken their baths.

Jack was inside at the time with Mr Montgomery, his partner Vania Le Noel, and their children aged 5, 6 and 12, who were preparing for bed.

"He just kept barking, like a cry for help. We didn't smell the fire but he did."

Wasn't it good of them to keep their dog outside, otherwise he may not have reacted as he did... but it is also the human 'reading'the dog's language too... or maybe they were just annoyed with the barking and went to quiet him up.. :)

I can't read too much into it, but it makes for a great story!

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It is not the first time the 11-year-old pitbull has saved someone from a fire - four years ago, when the family was still living in Auckland, Jack raised the alarm when a neighbour's house burnt down.

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Now all they have to do is to teach to the dog to put fires out !

While there were smoke alarms in the house, they did not have batteries. It was lucky the dog had alerted the family.

Bob Kerridge: License owners to solve dog's breakfast of canine control

As the reality of the Super City concept emerges, ......

My first thoughts are of the canine population and the vexing question of dog control. If the same thinking reflected in suggested transport solutions is applied to dogs, we have already solved half our problems.

Under the present structure, the Dog Control Act bestows local authorities with the power to concoct their own dog control bylaws, which creates, literally, a "dog's breakfast" of seven confusing regulatory regimes in the Auckland region.

As a result the cost to register your dog ranges from $80 in the Franklin District to $169 in Auckland City for "entire" dogs. And $60, again in Franklin, to $140 in Papakura for desexed dogs.

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Equally when it comes to enforcement of the various dog control bylaws, the extremes between local authorities is alarming, and range from the over-exuberant draconian administration to one where the presence of dog control officers is a rare occurrence. All at the whim of the ruling council in the area.

Hey, someone who actually agrees with me ?! I'm in good company :)

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Imagine a city whose dog-owning residents are aware of their responsibilities, both to the dogs and their fellow humans, and are made accountable for the actions of their dogs.

This is achievable through the simple act of licensing the owner, not the dog. In providing a licence to individuals for the privilege of having a dog it would, in the first instance, be necessary for the person to be educated into the essential responsibilities that go with such an entitlement. MORE>>

Yes !!

It's wouldn't just be for the Super City, but the country too!

Driver left dog to die on street

Pharazyn Street resident Anita Rod is sickened by the actions of a motorist who apparently left a fatally injured dog lying in the middle of the road on Wednesday evening.

Mrs Rod said she was driving home about 6.30pm on Wednesday when she saw the dog, a black staffordshire cross, lying on the road.

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"I couldn't believe someone could just leave an animal to die and that people could just drive by without stopping to investigate whether the poor animal was still alive."

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She drove it to Totally Vets where the animal was diagnosed as having a broken back and a broken jaw.

A spokeswoman from Totally Vets told the Feilding Herald they could not track down the dog's owner because it had no tags and was not microchipped. She said the animal's injuries were so severe it was decided it should be destroyed to avoid further suffering.

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The owner, who did not want to be named, later phoned the Herald to confirm that the dog was in fact her pet, Busker. She was dismayed that whoever hit Busker had not stopped to give assistance.

"If you hit an animal, stop." She was very grateful to Mrs Rod for the care and attention she gave Busker. "What an heroic thing she did. It's a great example to others."

SDC keeps its dog fee lowest

Worried about the price of registering your dog? Then you need to move to the Southland District.

After deciding to keep its dog registration fee at $16.80 for the new financial year, the Southland District Council officially has the cheapest rates in the country.

Council regulatory services group manager Lindsay McKenzie said it was council's intention to keep the registration fee as low as possible.

While it only cost $16.80 to register a dog it was surprising how many people decided to avoid the fee and risk a $300 fine, he said.

When I went back to Ottawa, Canada, I found out that the registration fee were $25.00, BUT that they didn't have a high rate of complying either. Obviously, it's not the money, but the principle, or something else....

Like in my previous blog entry, $16.80 is just about the right amount to pay for registration. In Chch it's $80 and unneutered it's something like $75. I seem to remember that 'it' dogs were a lot less expensive to register. So how come is the price almost the same to register intack, neutered dog?!?

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Owning a dog in Invercargill is set to be more expensive from July 1, with prices rising from $69.50 to $80 or from $45 to $52.50 with a discount for dogs that have not previously come to the attention of the council.

That Invercargill POUND can't even keep dogs in !?

I have a problem with this.... " for dogs that have not previously come to the attention of the council." An un-substantiated complaint is deemed to 'come to the attention of the council' and therefore an elevated fee is required.... hum.....

lining the pockets of the council

From the CCC website

How does the Council spend my registration fee?

Funds collected from dog registration helps the Council have better control of Christchurch's dog population.

Registration fees can only be used for dog related services.

Benefits of registration may include:

Positive identification of your dog. So they know who to fine when your dog wanders

Re-uniting of lost or injured dogs with their owners. Yes, but they charge you for getting your dog back!

Better planning of dog control services through accurate population data. Oh really? So, Bexley gets more of a look-in than say, Merivale?!

Investigation and resolution of dog problems.

Educational programmes encouraging responsible dog ownership practices amongst young people. If this were working, why do family dogs still have the highest rate of dog bites?

Maintenance of the City Dog Shelter facilities for lost, injured, aged and young dogs. What an awful place for a dog!

Dog patrol services aimed at reducing wandering dogs and so reducing nuisance to the public. Actually, isn't the cost of recoving your dog from the pound pay for this?!

Encouragement of de-sexing through discounted registration. Oh! $10 discount ?! How does this help with "How does the Council spend my registration fee?"

Generous prompt registration concession for owners granted Responsible Dog Owner Status. How does this help with "How does the Council spend my registration fee?"

Provision of dog park areas where owners may exercise their dog/s in pleasant surroundings. I just wish that the dog parks were accessible for non-car owners. These parks are great, but again, they are far to get to. What about for those worried about carbon footprints?

Friendly advice in regard to dog ownership and property suitability. Why is it then that one feels on the back foot when you get a door knock from the Dog Pound Officer and he says 'this is a warning' but you see him sitting across the street in his van writing you out a fine?! And why is it when you want to go to court and dispute a ticket, you don't get your day.

Bylaws wreck Victor's day

An Invercargill dog's dreams of leaving his mark on The Southland Times have been dashed by a city council bylaw.

It is the 10th international Take Your Dog to Work Day today, but short of a commando-style operation dogs are not allowed in the inner city.

The Invercargill City Council designates the central business district and inner-city confines as no-dog zones with the exceptions of guidedogs, hearing dogs and police dogs.

An emotional beagle and self-confessed newshound, Victor was reportedly disappointed by the news.

Invercargill City Council director of environmental services William Watt said the council would not make any exemptions for Victor, or any other dog, no matter what day it was.

Isn't this sick! I just really resent this council telling us how to live our lives...
... the fact that dogs are an integrated part of SOME people's lives, and that it's been proven that having a dog reduces stress by increase your oxitocin levels. All over the States, they celebrate Bring your Dog to Work Day. What's wrong with New Zealand !?!

So how does the city council, who want people to live downtown, to revitalise the inner city, cope with this by-law? Why shouldn't they be allowed to own a dog.

Chipping discount riles dog owners

Long-time responsible dog owners should not need to microchip their dogs to merit a discount on the dog registration fee, say dog owners balking at an increase in their fees.

The Marlborough District Council has increased some dog registration fees, but is giving a price cut to "good owners" who have microchipped and neutered their pets.

Dog owner Anita Baucke believes it is unfair she has to microchip her elderly fox terrier Tina to be charged the lower fee and thinks being a long-time responsible dog owner should make her eligible for a reduction.

She's received a bill for $72 for Tina's registration. If the dog was microchipped it would be $48. It would cost $56.25 to microchip Tina. Mrs Baucke said she remembered paying about $50 last year,

She said she would not have a problem with microchipping Tina if the pet was a young dog, but Tina was nearly 13.

Mrs Baucke said there should be exceptions for dogs like Tina that were desexed and had never been in trouble with dog control.

"At her age, I don't know if she will be alive next year."

Mrs Baucke's neighbour Pat Dean also objected to microchipping her dog to qualify for the lower registration fees.

"With the cost of everything going up I don't think I can afford it." MORE>>

I wouldn't mind so much if I actually got VALUE for my dog registration fees. There's nothing. Nada, ziltch !

Just the city council lining their pockets... but they make us dog parks, I hear them say. Ya, only for those who have cars to get to them!