Dog owners must accept responsibility for their pets' actions, says the New Zealand Kennel Club.
The club said yesterday that it supported owner licensing and more community education after 5-year-old Auckland boy Angel Daniels was one of three children injured in a dog attack on Friday.
Angel needed 2 1/2 hours
of surgery and 200 stitches in his face after being bitten by a staffordshire terrier he had accidentally hit with his bike.
"Dog owners must be prepared to accept responsibility for their dog's actions, and teach their children how to care for and respond to their pets," said club president Ray Greer.
A string of attacks since last month have added to calls for tougher dog control laws.
In Friday's other attacks a 14-year-old girl was hurt by two dogs - one of them an unregistered pit bull terrier - at a house at Ngawha and a 4-year-old Lower Hutt boy was bitten on the cheek and lips on private property in Naenae.
On January 31, 7-year-old Carolina Anderson was savaged in a Westmere park by an american staffordshire terrier.
Following the attack, the Herald began an appeal to raise money for two operating-room microscopes at Middlemore Hospital.
Health Ministry figures show that there were 386 admissions to hospitals because of dog bites in the year to June 2000, and 53 more attacks than in the previous year.
* The Government will try again today to push through dangerous-dog legislation.
Act and New Zealand First last week opposed an attempt to have the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2), dealing with dogs, referred to a parliamentary committee.
Act said the Government wanted a "blank cheque" signed off in a rush, and New Zealand First said the Government's plan of action was too slow.
A spokesman for Local Government Minister Chris Carter said Leader of the House Michael Cullen would propose a non-debatable motion today that the bill be referred to the government administration committee - requiring only a majority rather than unanimous support.
While the rest of the bill has been passed, the part covering dogs was held back because of concerns about how it would work. It specifically bans american pit bull terriers but other breeds can be added to the restricted list.
- NZPA
Herald feature: When dogs attack
How you can help
A trust fund has been opened for 7-year-old dog attack victim Carolina Anderson. You can send a cheque to: Carolina Anderson Trust Account, BNZ, PO Box 46-294, Herne Bay, or donate over the internet to BNZ account number 020 248 000 3002-000.
The Herald is backing an appeal to raise money for a $150,000 operating-room microscope for Middlemore's plastic surgery unit. The microscope is essential in minute plastic surgery work such as reattaching nerves. Middlemore has two, used on Carolina Anderson and the victims of the Pipiroa sword attack, but they need replacing. Donations can be sent to: The Microsurgery Appeal, Editorial Department, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 706, Auckland.