Editorial: Good job on dog control
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Opinion
OPINION: It's claimed man's best friend has an enemy in the Marlborough District Council.
The council has been accused of being anti-dog, with a lack of parks open to dogs and other control measures that have raised the hackles of dog lovers.
This is ridiculous. The council is just doing its job, and doing it well.
Any council has to keep a very firm grip on a town's dog population.
There is nothing worse than constant dog barking to spoil a neighbourhood. Being rushed at by dogs while out for a walk is also unpleasant, especially if they are roaming off their property.
In general, Blenheim doesn't have a problem with dogs on the loose compared to other places. And that is probably due to tight supervision, from both the council and owners who stick to the rules.
But keeping dogs under control is about more than spoiling a walk or incessant barking.
Last week an Inland Road, Kaikoura, farmer spoke of the horror of finding mauled sheep on his property. Eight had been killed by a dog or dogs, and he had to put down a further 12. Another 10 were injured. He called it a "horrendous mess".
And dog attacks don't stop at sheep.
Yes, this is the sharp end of dog ownership and control. Most dogs are not sheep killers or attackers of people. But the council deserves nothing but praise for keeping dogs on a short leash here.
And as for people with seven or more dogs having to pay more for registration? That's come about because the council is looking at removing a rebate for people who own that many. The rebate can probably be traced back to Marlborough's farming roots, with farmers or shepherds given a let off because of the number of dogs they needed to keep properties running.
Owning that many dogs can never be taken for granted. Owning a dog in Marlborough is still very cheap. Fiftysix dollars for a non working dog and $24 for a working dog. Dog owners do have some good ideas for council – one suggested plastic-bag dispensers for dog waste such as found in Nelson should be placed everywhere by council. That's worthy of some consideration, though the cost may make it prohibitive.
But generally, the council shouldn't be taken to task tor removing the rebate. There are 475,072 dogs in New Zealand, about one dog for each person. It's probably best if we don't encourage everyone to have at least seven each. Anyone who has that many dogs should know they will have to pay for them. If they have enough to feed, house and keep them in good health, the registration would be the least of their expenses.
- The Marlborough Express
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475,072 does not equal 1 per person...it's about 1 dog for every 9 people...