Sensible Dog Control Policies
6th September 2010
PRESS RELEASE
Dog Owners get a raw deal!
Reckless use of rat poison in areas where eastern suburbs dog owners walk their dogs has the potential to be disastrous according to eastern ward council candidate Allan Probert.
“We could very well have a severely ill dog or even a tragic death on our hands”
It appears that DOC are laying rat bait lures in the area of Palmer Heads that includes Ataturk Memorial and the Old Military Road, areas that are favourite haunts of many of our dog owners. This bait is being laid by members of the Breaker Bay residents association.
“As the local vet, we normally receive information about poisoning programmes on the Peninsula and surrounding areas so we are aware of the risk and the potential signs that occur when a dog is potentially at risk from poisoning, especially when there are several poisons that may be used and treatments differ significantly! In this case, we have had no information at all about about this campaign”.
There are also some issues around signage and the fact that trained DOC workers are not laying the poison.
“I have walked my dog in this area and I have frequently observed dogs off the lead in this area. I am not aware of recent signage to clearly indicate the risk of poison and that it has been laid in this area and also over what area!”
“Dog owners get a tough enough deal in Wellington, paying high registration fees for little reward in the way of facilities such as secure exercise areas and ‘poo bins’
I believe it is time for sensible dog control policies. These include;
PRESS RELEASE
Dog Owners get a raw deal!
Reckless use of rat poison in areas where eastern suburbs dog owners walk their dogs has the potential to be disastrous according to eastern ward council candidate Allan Probert.
“We could very well have a severely ill dog or even a tragic death on our hands”
It appears that DOC are laying rat bait lures in the area of Palmer Heads that includes Ataturk Memorial and the Old Military Road, areas that are favourite haunts of many of our dog owners. This bait is being laid by members of the Breaker Bay residents association.
“As the local vet, we normally receive information about poisoning programmes on the Peninsula and surrounding areas so we are aware of the risk and the potential signs that occur when a dog is potentially at risk from poisoning, especially when there are several poisons that may be used and treatments differ significantly! In this case, we have had no information at all about about this campaign”.
There are also some issues around signage and the fact that trained DOC workers are not laying the poison.
“I have walked my dog in this area and I have frequently observed dogs off the lead in this area. I am not aware of recent signage to clearly indicate the risk of poison and that it has been laid in this area and also over what area!”
“Dog owners get a tough enough deal in Wellington, paying high registration fees for little reward in the way of facilities such as secure exercise areas and ‘poo bins’
I believe it is time for sensible dog control policies. These include;
- Licensing of owners, not dogs!
- Either cutting the cost of dog registration OR offering more with respect to facilities ( at least three secure dog parks in wellington and poo bins targeted at busy areas such as walkways and lyall bay beach) and neutering-I would refund the first years registration fees on veterinary evidence of neutering.
- Free microchipping of all dogs in wellington.
- More reasonable access to beaches and exercise areas; as well as a more European approach to public areas such as town, cafes and other public areas.
