19 Mar 2014

Thousands of dangerous dogs in NZ

10:22 am on 19 March 2014

Loose laws are being blamed for the breeding of dangerous dogs in New Zealand.

There are 3,962 dogs belonging to one of the five breeds banned from entering the country registered in New Zealand.

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Photo: 123RF

The Institute of Animal Control Officers says those dogs already in the country before the law changes, in 2003 and 2011, had to be registered and classed as menacing, and were subject to being neutered by local councils.

But institute vice president Ken Thomas says it's easy to falsely register a banned breed as something else and avoid having it desexed because there is a lack of resources to follow up registrations.

Mr Thomas says because of this, and a lack of resources to follow up every registration, the true number of dangerous dogs here is difficult to tell.

The office for local government minister Paula Bennett says she's seeking advice on dog control laws.