Media Release 28 March 2006

Licensing dog owners the best solution

The NZ Kennel Club welcomes the news that microchipping will be universally required for all dogs and puppies first registered from July 1st this year.

“We agree that there should be one rule for all dogs and that there should not be any exemptions,” said Lesley Chalmers, president, NZ Kennel Club.

“But we have never agreed that microchipping will stop bad owners allowing their dogs to attack children, adults, dogs, and other animals.

“There are enforcement powers, recently increased, which are not being fully used to penalise bad owners. Central and local authorities should be concentrating on using their powers.

“The NZ Kennel Club has long called for licensing of owners, and effectively banning bad people from owning or having custody of dogs. Broadly speaking, there are no bad dogs – only bad owners!

“With the implementation of the National Dog Database, it is possible to overcome the previous objections that the system of registration by local authorities precluded owner licensing.

“We do have some reservations around implementation of microchipping including who can access the National Dog Database. It is important that a dog without a collar can be identified by a microchip 24 hours a day.

“If the family pet has been dognapped and then abandoned collarless and injured, we know that a responsible owner will want to be contacted immediately. No-one wants delays due to difficulty in accessing information,” said Mrs Chalmers.

ENDS

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