Beloved dog put down

rief-stricken sickness beneficiary Nik Taylor faces life without his best friend after Auckland City Council animal control killed his dog Mahia.

The Otahuhu man's pet was impounded after he failed to pay the council's $159 registration fee. Shit! it cost $159 to register your dog in Auckland !!

He was also hit with a $750 fine for obstruction because he wouldn't let animal control take the dog. Officers later broke into his flat and seized the labrador-cross. WHAT !! that's breaking and entering !!

Mahia was put down on February 16 but Mr Taylor, who had been trying to find out where she was, wasn't told until March 2, after the Manukau Courier contacted the council. Bloody council..

"We are very sorry for Mr Taylor's loss and acknowledge this is an unfortunate situation," a council spokeswoman says. Doh! why don't you pay for damages and emotional damages. There are dogs out there bitting people and you put a muzzle on them, but this dog is loved, and you kill it??

The council is to look at improving its service so people on fixed or limited incomes "are offered greater flexibility" when paying registration fees and fines. That'll take a decade to improve, if at all. some idiots would say that 'these people' should own dogs if they can't afford it. Well, at least it is a dog and not a child.. Oh, I should be getting some comments about this..

Mr Taylor says his home "has no heart" since Mahia was taken.

Her absence has seen the 51-year-old fall back into the depression the dog had helped relieve. YES, Dog Therapy is a well known, documented medical intervention.

"I came out of my shell with her and when she left I retreated back."

Mahia meant the world to him, he says, and he spoiled her with unconditional love and care.

But living on only $130 a week he could not afford to pay the registration fee.

An animal control officer visited him on January 21 because the dog was unregistered.

Mr Taylor says she started talking of impounding the dog and he admits he became aggressive.

The thought of losing his "baby" upset him and he verbally abused the officer and stopped her taking the dog.

Mr Taylor, who also has a heart condition, says he tried to explain he was on a benefit and could not afford the fee.

He was then issued with the $750 fine for obstruction because he refused to pay the registration or allow officers to impound the dog. Or refuse to open the door, so they just kicked it in!

The dog remained unregistered so animal control officers returned to his property on February 7 with police and a warrant from a district court judge. ya know.. the law ISN'T and SHOULDn't be black and white. Life is about living in the grey areas.

Mr Taylor was out when the officers came.

They broke into his flat through the front door window, seized the dog and took her to Redvale Animal Shelter in Silverdale.

Animal control left a letter stating that unless Mr Taylor paid all the fees owing within seven days, the dog could be put up for adoption or euthanased. THAT is a THREAT... shame on them! That's called bullying in schools.

A neighbour gave Mr Taylor a cheque so he could pay the registration fee.

But when he went to pay, the cheque was not accepted. WHAT ??

The council spokeswoman says the cheque was for this year's and next year's registration fees but the council could only process the current fee and asked Mr Taylor to provide payment for only that. You gotta be joking...

He did not have another cheque and said he would have to return later. He did not.

On February 16 Mahia was assessed and deemed unsuitable for adoption and put down. I would like to know how they assess dogs. What test did they do, and what did the dog fail at?t?

The council spokeswoman says the letter to Mr Taylor clearly stated what would happen if he did not pay the fees and fines within seven days.

He was not heard from again and the dog was put down.

Mr Taylor says there was no way he could afford to pay registration fees and fines that totalled more than $1000.

He is having difficulty accepting Mahia is dead and says in his heart he believes she is still alive.

With his only family gone, he says he is finding it tough and his home is now lifeless.

"It feels like the heart has gone out of this place; the life has gone out if it."