Can Poor People Own Dogs in New Zealand?

Recently we received the following email, posted as written, except some minor changes to anonymise the sender. Another dog killed. Because they can.

I live in a town in the Waikato, over the past month, my dealings with the local animal control have been really bad, to the point now where i feel i am being harassed because of a personal vendetta.

The Wanganui Chronicle reports:

A dog that pulled its Wanganui owner out of a car wreck has posthumously been granted hero status - 17 years later.

Merenia Donne's late German shepherd Nikki has received the Eukanuba Canine Hero Award for her actions.

Are dogs that rescue you only for rich people? Or God's gift to everyone?

The NZ Herald reports:

As David Keys lay cold, paralysed and face down with a broken neck in a dark sinkhole in Waihi, his 12-month-old dog Bailey sat loyally by his side.

Perhaps today is the day that poor people can afford a dog. I urge you all to read John Palino's animal welfare policy:

Under a Palino-led Council, several major changes are likely:

1. Existing animal control contracts will be reviewed, with a view to replacing the focus on profit with an approach that encourages responsible pet ownership and supports Aucklanders’ right to enjoy the company of their four-legged friends.
2. The current euthanasia rates will be addressed. A focus on rehoming unwanted animals rather than euthanising will be introduced.

This best friend saved a life::

A police dog who saved his handler by leaping into the path of a bullet has been posthumously recognised for his actions.

Senior Constable Bruce Lamb's police dog Gage was fatally shot in what should have been a routine drugs search in a Christchurch house in July, 2010.

Gage leapt into the path of a bullet, helping to save the life of his handler and that of Constable Mitchell Alatalo, who was also injured during the incident in Buccleugh Street.

The NZ Herald writes that Col Sheehan has survived a brush with death - and he thanks dog for that:

"The dog annoyed the hell out of me - he was licking my face and carrying on, there was no way I was going to get any rest - he just wouldn't give up either," Mr Sheehan said. "He was carrying on like something was wrong - and he was right."

...

"So on the way past I picked up the phone and called the medical centre."

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.