Letters to the editor:

THANK you for your wonderful work for the dogs. I am very happy to see that your magazine has taken the Asian dog issue on board and is publishing good articles regarding the issue.

I would like to know whether the hopes from your article in issue 1 page 2 (that New Zealand would follow the lead of Britain and ban dog exports to the Far East) became true as some people here in England would like to see the ban of exporting dogs to Asia from all western countries.

Do you have any update on this?

England has shown itself to be suitably disgusted and has voted unanimously on the Second Reading of an Act to stop the export of all canines to the Far East.

It seems inevitable that this will be part of British law by next year.

Thanks again for your great work for men's best friends. Best wishes. - Yoon (UK)

The hopes expressed in that first issue have not come to fruition. Indeed, the government of New Zealand has seemingly decided that dogs are not worth the time spent to devise any logical or workable control laws and has now introduced even more stringent laws including muzzling in public for certain breeds (I always understood that for the sake of the dog's health a muzzle should be a VERY short-term application of 20 minutes absolute maximum as it can not pant with a muzzle on and the effect can be the same as 20 minutes shut in a hot car). Obviously in this country, the government is "buying consultation" from a bogus "consultant" whose ignorance is unbelievable. - Ed

Hunting questions

AN interesting and informative article on lurchers. I am curious to know what reaction a hunting ban would cause in New Zealand?

I feel in the UK we are all getting roped in with the mounted fox hunting packs and an across-the-board ban will stop us genuine lurchermen. Thanks. - Richard (UK)

Because of the different focus in NZ and the fact that hunt clubs use rabbits or hares here, I do not think a ban would be noticed by any other than the hunt clubs as it is a fairly low-profile sport here (I may be open to contradiction on that point - perhaps a reader could send more information?).

The deerstalkers, pig hunters and thar hunters have far greater participating numbers and a huge sport following as well as many professionals who take tourists on hunting trips, so a ban on any form of hunting here is unlikely for financial reasons. - Ed

Magazine appreciated

I JUST wanted to tell you that I like the new format for the magazine! It's very easy! I also enjoyed all the articles, especially those dealing with service dogs. Thanks for all your hard work! - Anna (USA)

Thank you for the positive feedback - it is very encouraging to know the articles are being read and enjoyed. - Ed

Dachshund size denied

MANY people think that there are only two sizes of Dachshunds, but really there are three sizes of Dachshunds. As many people know there is the standard dachshund and the miniature dachshund but only few people know that there is a third size of dachshund, the toy or rabbit dachshund.

The AKC denies the toy dachshund, but maybe the AKC will accept the toy dachshund soon? - Annie (USA)

I have looked up the sizes on various web pages and found that while there is quite a large difference in the sizes of the accepted classes there is only a matter of perhaps two inches between the mini and toy dachshund, which could cause difficulty if a large 'toy' or a small 'mini' were shown. If the extra class becomes strongly established I am sure its acceptance will follow. - Ed

Protection advice wanted

My wife and I deliver courier mail in South Auckland and have problems with dogs. One dog in particular makes a beeline for me as soon as I appear and it is snarling, not barking.

The owner has been approached by the council in answer to several complaints from other people as well as myself but so far nothing has been done.

The section is not fenced and the dog is usually running free. It seems that someone has to be bitten before anything can be done. Is there a deterrent available to drive the dog away?

Is there a site address that I can get information on how to protect ourselves? - Rex (Auckland)

I am throwing this question open to the readers. Is there anyone out there with some suggestions for Rex? It would have to be something 100 percent effective or the consequences may be worse than expected (it could make the dog really mad!). Perhaps a cattle prod? If anyone has a tried and true method whereby mail delivery persons could protect themselves from roaming dogs, we would love to hear it. - Ed