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!
3 Comments:
At 12:42 p.m.,
Anonymous said…
i think if you knew the costs involved in providing a safe environment for both dog owners and those without companion animals, and if you check the statutory annual dog control report produced by yout territorial authority, you may find that your comment about "getting nothing" doesnt hold...!
Dog ownership in NZ is a user-pays system set by central govt, just like firearms licencing, car rego, rates, water etc etc...
Perhaps the council should just ignore all the noise complaints, attacks, roaming dogs, strays etc then?? yeah right
pet ownership is a priviliage, not a right.
At 7:01 p.m.,
Natalie's Life said…
Let me put it straight. A lot of the 'problem' dog that we see today are caused by our dog laws.
Putting dogs behind high fences and short leashes leads us to the problems we see with our dogs.
As written in my blog many times, when dogs don't get socialised, they miss out on the essential learning that takes place...
I don't have a problem with roaming dogs as long as they are socialised. There were many roaming dogs when I was a kid. Some you knew to stay away from, and some you patted.
Dogs were part of our lives.
Check out World Dogs News blog http://doglinksworldnews.blogspot.com/
and see how Moscow have dogs roaming in their subway, and no body puts them in the pound!
At 7:02 p.m.,
Natalie's Life said…
PS. Yes it is my right to own a dog. But it's also my responsibility of teaching my dog the ways on our society.
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