Council backs neutering rule
The Nelson City Council has re-affirmed its desire to rid Nelson of menacing dog breeds by refusing to drop a compulsory neutering rule.
The decision comes as council dog control officers search for the owners of three bull terriers that attacked a puppy on Tahunanui Beach on Sunday.
The council's environment committee was on Tuesday asked by Environmental Inspections manager Stephen Lawrence to relax a neutering policy which he believes is driving menacing dogs "underground".
Four dog breeds are classified as menacing by law - American pitbulls, dogo argentino, Japanese tosa, and Brazilian fila. The council can also classify other dogs as menacing if they have exhibited threatening behaviour to people or other animals. There are currently 65 registered menacing dogs in Nelson, most of which are pitbulls.
Mr Lawrence told the committee dog control officers supported the idea of compulsory neutering but dog owners were hiding their animals to dodge the requirement.
He wanted the council to consider neutering on a case by case basis.
The intention of the law allowing councils to require neutering was to eradicate the menacing breeds, but because only some areas had taken up the option its effectiveness was limited, Mr Lawrence said.
Marlborough District Council and Tasman District Council neuter on a case by case basis.
Most city council environment committee members were reluctant to give up on the policy just a year and a half after it was introduced.
Cr Mark Holmes wondered how the owners of 16 dogs that had already been neutered would feel if the rule was suddenly changed.
Cr Jan Fryer said "menacing owners" were more the problem than menacing dogs, because responsible owners would register the animals.
"The biggest problem is those that are going to flout the law whatever the law is. Even if it's relaxed they'll probably still flout it because they're not going to want to be responsible for micro-chipping and all the other things that go with owning a dog."
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The decision comes as council dog control officers search for the owners of three bull terriers that attacked a puppy on Tahunanui Beach on Sunday.
The council's environment committee was on Tuesday asked by Environmental Inspections manager Stephen Lawrence to relax a neutering policy which he believes is driving menacing dogs "underground".
Four dog breeds are classified as menacing by law - American pitbulls, dogo argentino, Japanese tosa, and Brazilian fila. The council can also classify other dogs as menacing if they have exhibited threatening behaviour to people or other animals. There are currently 65 registered menacing dogs in Nelson, most of which are pitbulls.
Mr Lawrence told the committee dog control officers supported the idea of compulsory neutering but dog owners were hiding their animals to dodge the requirement.
He wanted the council to consider neutering on a case by case basis.
The intention of the law allowing councils to require neutering was to eradicate the menacing breeds, but because only some areas had taken up the option its effectiveness was limited, Mr Lawrence said.
Marlborough District Council and Tasman District Council neuter on a case by case basis.
Most city council environment committee members were reluctant to give up on the policy just a year and a half after it was introduced.
Cr Mark Holmes wondered how the owners of 16 dogs that had already been neutered would feel if the rule was suddenly changed.
Cr Jan Fryer said "menacing owners" were more the problem than menacing dogs, because responsible owners would register the animals.
"The biggest problem is those that are going to flout the law whatever the law is. Even if it's relaxed they'll probably still flout it because they're not going to want to be responsible for micro-chipping and all the other things that go with owning a dog."
MORE>>
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