Free desexing programme for menacing dogs sparks debate

The American Pit Bull Terrier is one of the dogs on the menacing list. Photo / Getty Images

More than $110,000 of Government money is being spent on desexing menacing dogs in the Bay in a bid to reduce attacks.

But the American Pit Bull Terrier Association called the scheme "a waste of public money" while local dog trainers say more responsibility should be put on owners.

Tauranga City Council received $64,350 and Western Bay of Plenty District Council $51,000 in funding as part of a nationwide campaign which targeted five dog breeds, including American pit bull terriers.

The funding could also include the cost of microchipping and registration.

Internal Affairs had rolled out the initiative, and a spokesman said it was part of several schemes to reduce the risk and harm of dog attacks, "which, as a whole, focus both on high-risk dogs and irresponsible dog owners".

Under the Dog Control Act, a dog may be classified as menacing if it belongs to a breed and type currently banned from importation, or if the local authority considers the dog poses a threat to people or animals on the basis of its behaviour, he said.

"Some councils chose to broaden the campaign beyond neutering menacing dogs subsidised in this campaign."

It had approved grants to 34 councils totalling $850,000 to subsidise neutering in their districts.

Tauranga City Council Animal Services team leader Brent Lincoln said it had desexed 37 dogs and used about half of its funding.

In Tauranga, there were 201 dogs classified as menacing, 154 by breed and 47 by deed, he said.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Compliance and Monitoring manager Alison Curtis said it had desexed 46 dogs and spent $10,000 on vet services. A further 44 dogs had been registered for the service.

Funding made the choice easy for owners who could not afford the cost and others who did not want to do it, she said.

"It would be great to provide support for all dog owners to get their dogs desexed, however, this campaign is targeted at dogs that have been identified as having a higher probability to cause harm in the community.

"Dog desexing has proven effective in reducing dogs
inclination to wander, their aggressive tendencies and reduces unwanted puppies in the community."

American Pit Bull Terrier Association spokeswoman Karen Batchelor said the government scheme was a "waste of public money".

"There is no such thing as an inherently dangerous breed and (they should) set about a de-sexing programme aimed at all breeds, particularly those belonging to families who are struggling to make ends meet."

But dangerous owners were a different matter, she said.

"It has long been recognised that the real problem lies at the two-legged end of the leash hence the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention no longer including breed in their analyses of canine versus human events, and the repeal of breed-specific legislation in many states of the US, and countries such as the Netherlands and Italy."

Tauranga dog trainer Susie Jones said if the programme was breed-specific it was "a load of rot", as not all dogs were bad.

"However, if you were not going to breed your dog, they should be spayed as it stops them roaming. "

Dog trainer Chelles McIntosh said owners needed to take more responsibility. Training and socialising were vital and should last the lifetime of the dog.