Call for better dog control

A Carterton man is begging Wairarapa dog owners to control their pets after two dogs mauled his beloved cat last week.
Jaffa, David Rossiter's cat of five years, was forced to have extensive surgery after dogs from a neighbouring property entered his section last month and tore one of the animal's hind legs to the bone.
He said nearby council workers broke up the attack before the bloodied cat scampered and hid terrified under the house.
The workers then phoned Carterton District Council animal control officer Robert Millar, who was able to contact Mr Rossiter at work.
"I managed to take a box under the house and get the cat in it. It was clawing at me and biting me because it was in so much pain," Mr Rossiter said.
He requested to the vet that it be put down, but was however told that it could be saved if the dogs' owner would pay for surgery, which totalled hundreds of dollars.
As a result of the attack, the dogs' owner also lost a permit to keep more than four dogs on her property and she was made to foot the vet's bill.
Mr Rossiter said it was the third time dogs had attacked on his property and the incident left him angry at irresponsible dog owners.
"I think that if people can't look after their animals, then they shouldn't be allowed to have them.
"I've seen plenty of roaming dogs around lately and the rangers need to do something about it."
Mr Millar said there is not an issue with stray dogs in Carterton and much of the council's work involves rounding up domestic dogs that had wandered from home.
He said dog owners need to ensure they have a good section with high fences, a kennel and to know where the dog is at all times.
Owners of offending dogs could face fines of up to $3000 and their dog could be destroyed, depending on the nature of the act.
In Masterton in the 2007/2008 year, animal control officers recorded that of 493 complaints, there were 17 attacks on people, 12 on other domestic animals and four on stock, poultry and other animals.
Eighty-six infringement notices were issued, with 61 being for keeping an unregistered dog.