Dean Jacqui: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
Dean Jacqui: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:632;Page:3739] 
JACQUI DEAN (National—Otago) 
: 
 I rise to speak on this Local Government Law Reform Bill which makes me reflect that the honourable member Damien O’Connor has called this an odd debate. Yes it is odd is it not? It is very odd indeed to think that microchipping a dog will protect kids from dogs. That is a very very odd point of view. This bill will not stop a dog from biting a child. Microchipping dogs will achieve nothing. Earlier this evening I was talking to a member of Federated Farmers who is a farmer himself. He said: “You know why are you people spending so much time on this microchipping of dogs?”. I said: “Well I’m blowed if I know but I tell you what—it is a stupid argument; it is a dopey argument.” Do members know what that farmer said to me? He said—and he spoke kind of slowly because farmers sometimes do—“I’ve tried to look at this issue from all angles but I just cannot see the sense in it.” 
And what about the dogs in all this? It is not good enough for this Labour Government to be taxing people—oh no—to be overtaxing hard-working dog-loving New Zealanders but now it wants to tax the dogs. Do members know what is worse? This new tax on dog ownership this new proposed requirement to microchip dogs will mean a death sentence for many many dogs. I refer members to an item on Newstalk ZB this morning which began: “Auckland SPCA turns away dogs”. The Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not taking in any more dogs or puppies—little furry puppies—this week and it is absolutely desperate to find foster families for dogs and puppies until new homes can be found for them. 
Do members know why? Well the shelter manager whose name is Rachel Foster has never seen so many dogs abandoned. Do members know why? OK—the reason is a combination of bad weather and the fact that dog registration which is a cost is due. But she tends to think that microchipping is also having an impact on the number of dogs being abandoned at the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This piece of madness has not even become law and already the dogs are paying the price. 
Also the Central Hawke’s Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals chairperson Kim Halligan has noticed a dramatic increase in the adoption of dogs in recent months. Guess what? She thinks it is largely due to the microchipping of dogs. Worse she also thinks microchipping could mean an increase in the number of canines abandoned at the shelter. Even worse she says the types of people who drop off their dogs are those who—these are her words—are likely to get another puppy in order to save paying. She went on to say that this happens a lot—it is horrifying. 
It is the dogs that will suffer from this legislation. This legislation will not protect a single child from a dog attack. Microchipping will not save another child from a dog attack. The local authorities will be lumbered yet again—as is the way with this Labour Government—with another piece of legislation to enact but without the cheque attached. So what will it mean for the local authorities?