20 September 2004

Warnings on dog offences welcomed

DOG (Dog Owners Group) President Dr Cathy Casey said today she was pleased that after 17 months of lobbying by responsible dog owners, the Council has at last seen its way to instruct Animal Control Services to issue warnings for nine offences.

“Dog owners have made many representations to Council regarding the unfairness of the current regime. Auckland City is now in line with what most other Councils are doing. We wrote to all Councils and of the 42 who answered only five (including Auckland City) do not issue warnings before issuing an infringement notice is issued to a dog owner.

“Auckland dog owners can now breathe a sigh of relief to learn that dog wardens hiding in the bushes with their instant fines will be a thing of the past.”

Dr Casey says she is however concerned about those dog owners who have already been trapped by the Council’s “zero tolerance” policy.

“I understand that there are twelve dog owners currently being taken to court by Auckland City Council for failing to pay these instant fines. I appeal to the Council to now get an independent review of each of these cases and issue a warning where it would have been more appropriate.

“I have reviewed the circumstances of many of these cases and it is just ludicrous to waste ratepayers’ money on expensive litigation doing battle with a dog owner that should never have been ticketed in the first place.”

ENDS

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