Can Poor People Own Dogs in New Zealand?

According to the NZ Herald:

Two purebred staffordshire bull terriers, similar to this one, used their scent to locate an injured woman who police said was close to death.

A good reminder. Dogs save humans as well.

Champs story is one of the countless stories received from Whangarei. It serves as a warning to all NZ dog owners as to where the the level of compassion for animals is at with Council bureaucracy.

Moke died early last month in Manukau City. He was 18 months old, registered and from a family devoted to his well-being.

Jinx may look staunch and flashy to some - but to those who know Jinx he is an obedient
loved and lovable pet. He is the safest with children on the property. In this neighbourhood he can alert his family immediately there is any danger out there.

Supposedly Animal Control will try to find suitable homes for dogs and puppies picked up. But what happens if you actually try get a dog from Animal Control Services?

(photo currently being looked for)

This occurred last week in Manurewa.Dog owners take heed.
Twopatch passed away last year in her old age. The owner phoned the Council office to tell them this. The Council said they would send out a 'death form'. This form was never recieved by the owners.

Many months after her death (early last week) a ranger turned up at the home where Twopatch had lived.The owners were at work, a visitor was staying at the home. The ranger demanded the visitor bring Twopatch out to her. The visitor explained Twopatch

Manurewa Story recently received (minor editing)

Sarj was 6 years old when his family moved house - 10 doors away down the street. After 2 weeks in the new house Sarj disappeared.The family looked everywhere. It transpired that Sarj had somehow got off his fully fenced property and walked up the street 10 houses to his old house. He was sitting on the back door porch. The occupants of this house were scared of dogs so went down the street and told Sarj's owners where he was and could they come and get him.

Yes, we know. It's not nice to start 2008 with two such stories. But we live in a system where the government controls peoples live to an unheard of extend. Remember, that a government powerful enough to give you everything you need, is also powerful enough to take everything away. Here then the story of Krip.

Krip's family are on a steep learning curve as to the long arm reaches of the Dog Control Act.

Animal Control Officers took Krip as the family didn't have $120 cash on them to pay for his registration. His destruction date was booked in at the pound. The children were devastated and didn't want to live without Krip. Dad went to the pound paid all the money and Krip came home.

Another story we received. Posted here as received, except for very minor editing.

Recently I received a call on my mobile from a neighbour saying 2 Animal Control Officers had gone to the back of our fenced rear yard,had put a hook on a pole through Bruno's collar and were hauling him across the front yard to their van. Other neighbours were trying to stall the Officers progress.

I came home immediately and demanded to know why they were taking him. They said he is a dangerous dog. I said Bruno is our gentle family pet, he is desexed.

Registered and we have had him since he was a puppy.

Isa was an approx 6 week old female pup. On a Monday Isa was sniffing around the grass verge outside the property beside the letterbox.

An Animal Control van driving past saw Isa, stopped the van, scooped Isa up and put her in the back of the van. A child from the family saw this, ran out and said "that is our puppy we want her back." The Officer said: "It was on the street." The van drove off with Isa. And she was destroyed on November 26, 2007.

The family was not able retrieve her, simply because in seven days they could not raise so much money as being able to retrieve her. It's always the poor isn't it?