Can Poor People Own Dogs in New Zealand?

It all started with a story in the Manukau Courier of Thursday, March 8, 2007. The whole story is available as scanned image (large, 1.6 MB), but a few extracts from that article follow below:

Grief-stricken sickness beneficiary Nik Taylor faces life without his best friend after Auckland City Council animal control killed his dog Mahia. The Otahuhu man's pet was impounded after he failed to pay the council's $159 registration fee. He was also hit with a $750 fine for obstruction because he wouldn't let animal control take the dog. Officers later broke into his flat and seized the Labrador-cross.

Mahia was put down on February 16 but Mr Taylor, who had been trying to find out where she was, wasn't told until March 2, after the Manukau Courier contacted the council. ...

Mr Taylor says his home "has no heart" since Mahia was taken. Her absence has seen the 51-year-old fall back into the depression the dog had helped him relieve. "I came out of my shell with her and when she left I retreated back." Mahia meant the the world to him, he says, and he spoiled her with unconditional love and care. But living on only $130 a week he could not afford to pay the registration fee.

An animal control officer visited him on January 21 because the dog was unregistered. Mr Taylr says she started talking of impounding the dog and he admits he became aggressive. The thought of losing his "baby" upset him and he verbally abused the officer and stopped her taking his dog. Mr. Taylor, who also has a heart condition says he tried to explain he was on a benefit and could not afford the fee.

He was then issued with the $750 fine for obstruction because he refused to pay the registration or allow officers to impound the dog. The dog remained unregistered so animal control officers returned to his property on February 7 with police and warrant from a district court judge.

Mr Taylor was out when the officers came.

They broke into his flat through the front door window, seized the dog and took her to Redvale Animal Shelter in Silverdale. Animal control left a letter stating that unless Mr Taylor paid all the fees owing within seven days, the dog could be put up for adoption or euthanased.

A neighbour gave Mr Taylor a cheque so he could pay the registration fee. But when he went to pay, the cheque was not accepted. The council spokeswoman says the cheque was for this year's and next year's registration fees but the council could only process the current fee and asked Mr Taylor to provide payment for only that. He did not have another cheque and said he would have to return later. He did not.

On February 16 Mahia was assessed and deemed unsuitable for adoption and put down. ...

Mr Taylor says there was no way he could afford to pay registration fees and fines that totalled more than $1000.

We see here how ruthless the behaviour of our government is towards those least able to defend themselves. They enter the property of this man without permission. They just take his dog. Procedures are set up such that even if this man comes to pay, he is not allowed. And how callously his dog is killed.