By Sia Aston
Dog owners could be asked to get themselves licensed to be in charge of a dog - it's one of the ideas put forward by ACT MP Rodney Hide who is calling for a review of dog laws.
Last week, a Tokoroa woman faced charges after her eight dogs set upon and viciously attacked Maggie Christensen who was out jogging.
Mrs Christensen told 60 Minutes she needed 25 hours of operations and six skin grafts – she will likely bear the scars for life.
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide is calling for an overhaul of dog laws.
“I don't think what we've got is particularly rational or sound and I want to see if we can do better,” he says.
Under current laws, dangerous dogs must be micro-chipped and certain breeds cannot be brought into New Zealand.
All dogs must also be registered with the local council.
Mr Hide says the measures don’t touch bad dog owners
“I think we tend to target the responsible dog owners and let the irresponsible dog owners that are causing the problem off the hook,” he says.
Mr Hide suggests all dog owners should first get a licence, an idea that has gained widespread support.
Phillip Lyth, of the Kennel Club, has welcomed the idea saying it would provide a great background check that the owners have suitable skills to control a dog.
“We would want an idea of licensing dog owners, not to be a money grab but to be just like driving a car - people proving they've got the skills,” she says.
Mr Hide says a review will look at dog laws and question whether local councils are best placed to administer them.
Both the SPCA and the Kennel Club say they are better equipped to administer laws than local councils which each interpret laws differently.
“They all have their own ideas, some are very good, others are absolutely diabolical and they have the ability now to set the law locally - crazy stuff,” says Bob Kerridge, of the SPCA.
Mr Lyth says even council charges for dog registrations are also hugely variable.
In the Southland district an annual dog licence is $16, in Auckland City owners will pay up to $121 and in Wellington $147 is being paid by some dog owners.
Mr Hide's review is apparently not under any urgency though - he suggests starting it in 2011.
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