Dog owners need to step up and take more responsibility for their pets in order to prevent attacks, says Local Government Minister Rodney Hide.
He was speaking at the 21st Companion Animal Conference in Christchurch today.
"My own personal view is that dog owners, all those who care for animals, in fact, need to take more responsibility.
"Personal responsibility is the price of individual freedom and governments should leave people to be as free as possible so long as they are responsible for themselves and their animals," he told the conference.
It was wrong to assume that more regulation would address concerns about dogs and public safety, he said.
"All too often it seems the first response to an incident like a dog attack is to create yet more regulation - rather than first asking if more regulation is needed, or whether some other non-regulatory solution would be better."
The Dog Control Act had undergone several amendments, generally in response to dog attacks, but it was unclear whether the changes had actually improved public safety, he said.
"In fact, they (reforms) may have resulted in a greater burden on dog owners, without a corresponding benefit to the public.
"Many of the changes have been ad hoc and reactive - often driven by emotion rather than clear thinking based on fact and analysis," he said.
Dogs and dog owners were now more controlled in most districts than ever before, he said.
Hide said he was concerned about restrictions that forced "responsible dog owners to move from their homes or give away their beloved companions".
But owners had to make sure that, in exercising their right to own a dog, their actions don't impact on other people's rights - like the "right to walk down the street without fear or to enjoy peace and quiet in their homes".
"If owners want the freedom to enjoy their dog's companionship, then they need to take responsibility for controlling their dogs and ensuring there is no risk to other people."
However dog owners shouldn't have to feel like "second-class citizens", he added.
"Dog owners should especially not have to fear unnecessary intrusive restrictions on them and their dogs in their own homes."
Mr Hide also spoke about his ministry's planned "first principles" review of public safety around dogs.
The "overarching goal" of the Government review was to find the best balance between public safety and the rights of dog owners, he said.
"The fact is that good law is based on good information and analysis, rather than emotion," he said.
Conference attendees include Christchurch mayor Bob Parker, Agriculture Minister David Carter and the New Zealand Companion Animal Council.
