http://stuff.co.nz/4319190a6568.html

There has been a 38 percent increase in the number of dog attacks reported to the Southland District Council's animal control unit, the council's dog control annual report says.

For the year ended June 30, 2007, the animal control unit responded to 239 complaints, which included attacks, aggressive behaviour, barking, fouling, wandering and dogs that were "contained" by members of the public. Forty dog attacks were reported -- an increase of 15 on the previous year.

So... is all this cost effective?? These are just numbers. They are meaningless. Who's the one doing the tallying, and seeing how much it cost to keep a dog in our society? Then subtract the cost of reduce health care intervention (as it's been proven that dogs reduce stress, give exercise to owners, etc), and then give us a sum figure.

Council regulatory services group manager Lindsay McKenzie said the increase was a result of raised awareness of dangerous dogs through various council initiatives and also through media coverage of high-profile court cases involving dog attacks.

Fines for breaching the Dog Control Act ranged from $100 to $750, Mr McKenzie said.

In addition, the report says animal control impounded 125 dogs -- up 30 (24 percent) on the previous year's figure of 95.

It also issued 125 infringement notices, which was up from 95 on the previous years.