New Zealand Dog News

Reviewing the dog news in New Zealand with editors comments. Someone needs to keep reviewing how our dogs are doing in society.

February 09, 2007

Dog Control officers need leash

Residents in Stokes Valley claim they are being intimidated by dog control officers.

Tougher dog control laws were introduced in New Zealand after a spate of high profile attacks but some people in the small Hutt Valley suburb feel stronger controls are needed over those who enforce the law. Well, so what we said has come true!! We submitted to the Select Committee for the new dog laws, and they didn't actually adopt anything we said. We knew that more rules meant that those in a uniform feel 'empowered' to bully with impunity. We had in Christchurch, and now in Stokes Valley. And that is only what we hear....

Resident Chris Boyce claims he was physically assaulted by a dog control officer in 2005 after he failed to re-register his elderly dog, Buster.

Boyce said he felt powerless against these uniformed officers who "wander round like policemen". He had not registered his dog as it was about to be put down. That is reasonable and during those final days with your dog, the last thing you want is to be intimidated by these folks!

The Hutt City Council later apologised and Animal Services Officer Les Dalton admitted there had been a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding !! Is that what they now call it?! Why can't they apologise without a needed to justify themselves.

But the local veterinary clinic says it was not an isolated incident and there have been plenty of negative stories about dog control officers in the area.

Vet nurse Lorna Hughes says allegations of physical and verbal abuse have been common. She added that "all sorts of complaints have come over the years but nothing has ever been done". Interestingly, around 5 years ago when our dog was sitting on our front yard waiting for us (yes, he wandered and we HAD to leave for an important appointment! ) a dog pound guy came around.

He tried to get our dog off of our property by bribing it with meat or something. Our neighbour (great neighbours we have) saw this, and demanded that the dog pound guy release the dog (our dog). The dog pound didn't want to, but our neighour threatened to 'complain'. That did wonders... and yes, we didn't complain to the city officials. But we would NOW!

Council spokesman Don Carson admits to some community disquiet but says it is difficult to address as they have not received any complaints. He says until they do, they will continue to support their officers. Everyone fells compelled to complain about a dog barking, but never about how it was handled. What I really resent is that when you do complain about "dog bullies" they hide behind their own.... What I want to see is

Les Dalton concurs with this view. He denies his officers are intimidating and adds that they are a very experienced team. Let me see their qualifications! I will email them, and ask how they got qualified. I'll keep you posted.

The council did admit though that they are considering some changes in their approach. It's about fregging time!

2 Comments:

  • At 12:59 p.m., Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I totally agree with the ways that the dog control officers in the Hutt Valley are acting. We failed to register our dog and were not given any notice about it. The owner (doesnt want to be named) was at the time about to under go a heart operation, in febuary 2008 a card was chucked on our doorstep from the regional dog officer in Wainuiomata to ring him. Once the card was found later that night he did not pick up. The owner of the dog straight away realised that she hadnt paid the registraion. 10am the next morning she paid it and 1 week later a fine was still issued. We spoke to many J.P's and the local counciller, they all beived under the circumstances the fine should be waved. Les Dalton has refused to, once we told him we were going to court he all of a sudden asked us to write another letter of the circumstances (which he said he would pick up in a few hours) he never did and we can never get hold of him. He is a disgrace to the system and should be put under review because he beilives he can do what ever he wants when he wants. Les Dalton has still not gotten back to us and it is now June. We continue to try ring him, when we get hold of him he says "I'll think about it and give you a call". Something most be done! Les Dalton you should be put on a lesh.

     
  • At 6:22 p.m., Blogger Natalie's Life said…

    I guess you paid the fine?! It sounds like this.

    The next time I get a dog fine, I'm immediately going to court. I will NOT write a letter explaining. I will ask a court to decide.

    Why?

    Because when we did write a letter to the Dog Pound stating that their fine was invalid because of the wrong date (thinking that that would be the end of that). They RE ISSUED the ticket.

    BASTARDS.

    NO MORE LETTERS. No phone calls.
    Just bring them to court.

    Those dog pound people are power hungry now... now they want the right to kill dogs on demand

    Dog control staff want licence to kill
    5:00AM Wednesday June 11, 2008
    http://tinyurl.com/4ara9o

     

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