Can Poor People Own Dogs in New Zealand?

In the land of the free the same thing can happen to a dog as here:

A summer thunderstorm hit the Fort Worth area, and spooked Avery enough that he bolted from the Medlens’ backyard and was picked up by Fort Worth Animal care and Control. The Medlens went to the shelter to get Avery back but didn’t have enough cash with them to pay the fee, so they were forced to return and Avery was given a “hold for owner” tag. When the Medlens returned to pick up Avery though, they were told that due to a mix-up, Avery had ended up on the list of unwanted dogs to be euthanized and had been put to sleep.

From Stuff:

dog whisperer Cesar Millan doesn't see a difference between a billionaire's dog and the furry friend of a homeless person.

How sad we do in NZ.

Amazing story:

A little dog, carried away by one of the Alabama tornadoes, somehow made it back home, two weeks later, walking on two broken legs! His name is "Mason" and he was in his owners' garage, when the storm blew him away.

Cash-strapped LA going after unlicensed dogs

...Council President Eric Garcetti estimates two-thirds of the city's dogs are unlicensed. Licenses cost $15 for a sterilized dog and $100 for an unaltered pet.

Getting all dogs licensed would mean at least an additional $3.6 million in fees to the city.

From KC DOG BLOG, in America, but so familiar here:

Two 'pit bulls' in Crawford County, MI are on death row -- but not for reasons you might suspect.

A report by TVNZ:

An Auckland dog owner is up in arms after animal control officers broke into his fenced backyard and took his dog.

The family pet was seized because its registration had expired but the owner believes the council overreacted. ...

"We were essentially 18 days overdue and it seems like a really radical step," says Broderick.

Animal Control actually went to great lengths to capture the dog.

They came down the side of the property and reaching the gate, which is locked from the inside, neighbours said they then jumped the fence and dragged Stanley away. ...

Photo will be posted.
Story received recently - edited.

" I live in Papatoetoe and recently one of my dogs barked, which usually means somethings up. I am retired and feel safe because if they bark there is always something up. In 5 mins the dog catchers were at the front door saying they had a NEIGHBOUR COMPLAINT THAT A DOG HAD BARKED. Both of my dogs were loaded in the van and they were gone. They werent registered because I dont have much money left over every week and I asked if I could pay off the registration like I do with all my other bills but they just wouldnt let me. They said pay the cash in 7days or we kill your dogs.

Photo will be posted.
Story received recently - edited.

"Our 2 dogs and a tiny puppy rested alot on their bed in the back door porch.
You cant see the porch from the road. We left them there for a short time and when we came home, the dogs and the puppy were gone. The note in the letterbox said they were at
the pound. We went to the pound and Dad could only afford to get one of our dogs out, they then killed our other family pet and our little puppy.
We kept saying to them but our dogs are registered (the little puppy wasnt) so why the hell did you take our dogs. They said "OUR DOGS WERE ON A LIST". They refused to tell us what the list was for. Our dogs have Amstaff in them so maybe thats why.

Photo to be posted.

The above dog is the 9th dog known of to be owned by this family.
The previous 8 were slaughtered by Ken Muirs dog slaughter business,
the above dog will also be slaughtered shortly - also for non registration.

Ken Muirs dog catchers regularly visit this house, take the latest dog and the family are fined another $300 non registration fine. Then the family get another dog and the process is repeated. To date they have paid $2,400 in non registration fines. When the above beautiful natured perfectly rehomable dog is slaughtered another $300 fine will be in the post.

The ratepayer dips out on the annual registration fee, the dog slaughter company gets richer, the family learn nothing. NZ's dog welfare act is out of control.

(photo to be posted)

Story known to this website for sometime. Dog owner posts up to date court transcripts
and correspondence regularly.

In essence this is being run by the NZ Police. This is a welfare issue. The Police
decided at the start they would deal with this and that they would be the welfare experts. As a result the NZ taxpayer has unbeknowingly paid approx $33,000 annually to police crown solicitors to defend in court as to why the police took the dog. The dog has been held in storge for 3 years hence the +++ in costs. We understand approx $22,000
has now been accumulated in storage costs due ongoing. This is on top of the $100,000
legal fees already paid to date.