Local authorities say tougher dog laws might be costly

11.45am

Tough new dog control laws proposed yesterday have been cautiously welcomed by local authorities and won praise from the Kennel Club.

But the New Zealand Veterinary Association says identifying dangerous breeds could be difficult.

The Government plans to introduce a raft of measures including muzzles for four fighting dog breeds in public, a ban on future imports, securely fenced areas for dogs and microchips for newly registered dogs by July 2006.

Breeds requiring muzzles in public are american pit bull terriers, brazilian filas, dogo argentinos and japanese tosas.

Local councils will also be able to require any dog of "a temperament or type that could be dangerous" to be muzzled.

Local Government New Zealand chief executive Peter Winder welcomed the proposals but said some had the potential to significantly increase enforcement costs.

"We will need to work through such issues very carefully to ensure we achieve the best balance between better dog control and increased cost, which will need to be borne either by dog owners or ratepayers in general," he said.

Kennel Club president Ray Greer said the measures were "robust, well considered and timely".

But New Zealand Veterinary Association president Lewis Griffiths said the legislation could run into practical problems.

"You can't identify (dangerous) dogs just by stipulating certain breeds," Dr Griffiths said.

"American pitbull terriers are very, very similar in appearance to a number of other breeds and then you get into crossbreeds ... "

He said the legislation was laudable in its intent, but there could be difficulties applying it to dog owners who needed the power of the law forced upon them.

"The vast majority of owners and dogs in this country are extremely safe and very well cared for and looked after," he told National Radio.

"Our focus will be trying to ensure that any changes are practicable and workable, rather than just at the level of political activity that says 'we're trying to do something', but not actually making a real difference at the coalface."

- NZPA