Media statement
For immediate release
Monday, 6 August 2007

Dunne: attack dogs must go

United Future leader Peter Dunne has demanded to know why vicious attack dogs continue to be allowed to roam the streets.

“I repeat what I said barely two weeks ago: what are we waiting for?” he asked after yet another child has been put in hospital seriously injured after an attack by a Staffordshire bull-terrier cross.

“This morning, a two-year-old girl had to undergo major facial surgery,” said Mr Dunne.

“It is totally unacceptable that the Government is just standing by and watching as another child has her life turned upside down in such vicious circumstances.

“The community is simply not a place for large, aggressive, territorial attack dogs.

“This is the third time within a month that I have been forced to speak out, but it continues to happen and will keep on happening until we ban these dogs.

“In the last year there have been 8 serious dog attacks reported by the media, all of them involving pitbull terriers, bull-mastiffs or Staffordshire bull terriers.”

The last survey done on dog control issues, in 2003, showed that consistently every year more than 3000 dog attacks take place in New Zealand.

“Breeds like pitbulls and Staffordshire bull terriers have got to go. At the very least we need to ensure that the most aggressive breeds of dog are neutered immediately, and place an embargo on any new breed coming into the country.

“No one will have to give up their current pet, but as the number of these dogs steadily decreases over time, so will the number of vicious dog attacks,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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