Menacing Nelson dogs face neutering

New Zealand -- Dog lovers are critical of a new requirement for all menacing dogs in Nelson to be neutered, saying it fails to address owner responsibility which lies at the crux of dog control problems.

The Nelson City Council's decision means by the end of next year breeds automatically considered menacing under the Government's Dog Control Act - american pitbulls, dogo argentinos, brazilian filas, and japanese tosas - will have to be neutered.

Dogs classified as menacing by the council because they have exhibited behaviour that poses a threat to people, stock or other animals will also be neutered.

The decision was made during Tuesday's discussions on the council's dog control policy, which received a record 655 submissions.

Currently 54 dogs in Nelson - 50 pitbulls, one dogo argentino, a ridgeback cross, a St Bernard and a huntaway cross - are classified as menacing.

Environmental inspections manager Stephen Lawrence told the council american pitbulls and pitbull-crosses also made up a large proportion of Nelson's unregistered dogs.

"These dogs have become the dog of choice of a certain sector of society. A lot of them are unregistered and are not trained well. They have a propensity by their breeding to be aggressive dogs."

The Government had banned importing the four breeds, he said.

"I guess the aim of the act is that they will disappear as a dog breed within New Zealand over a period of time."

Speaking outside the meeting, Mr Lawrence said if owners refused to de-sex their animals, the council had the right to seize the dog, or take the owner to court. A maximum fine of $3000 could be imposed.

Also outside the meeting, Nelson veterinarian Hans Andersen said the decision was "a slightly mixed bag".

"Neutering male dogs definitely does help manage dominant aggression, which is a small bit of rationale for the decision, but it makes no real difference to many other menacing behaviours."

It was important to neuter the dog when it was young, as aggressive behaviour became habit over time, Mr Andersen said. He did not agree with the automatic classification of the four breeds as menacing, and believed dog and owner education was the key to good dog behaviour.

"It's true to say that some breeds are over-represented in the statistics but it's also true to say that about human violence - that some breeds of humans are actually over-represented in domestic and public violence statistics. That doesn't mean we should put a sanction against all of those breeds of humans."

Dogs should be treated on a case-by-case basis, Mr Andersen said.

Long-time dog owner and breeder Trish Gibbs agreed, and said the decision was likely to anger dog owners as it did not distinguish between responsible and irresponsible owners.

"I think it will probably arouse quite a bit of ill-feeling."

She supported de-sexing if the dog had actually done something threatening. However, in circumstances where the dog was provoked, for example by children's teasing, there needed to be some leniency, she said.

Any breed of dog had the potential to injure someone if it was badly trained, she said.

All the councillors except Cr Alan Turley supported the move, although Cr Denise Henigan urged caution.

The decision had the potential to create a "frenzy of pitbull breeding" before the neutering time limit, or encourage dog owners to move their animal to another area, Cr Henigan said.

Cr Turley said the move was "excessively draconian" and warned it would "potentially drive the whole issue underground".

The council has now adopted its dog control policy, and a draft dog control bylaw will be presented to the council before going out for public consultation.

The Tasman District Council passed its dog control bylaw in September.

Dog control contractor John Bergman said the council retained the option to neuter menacing dogs, but it was not automatic.