Funding has been approved for Opotiki and Rotorua to trial a set of proposals to reduce the risk and harm of dog attacks.

There are a number of changes including requiring owners of dogs classified as menacing or dangerous to obtain a ‘high-risk dog owner licence' from their council.

There will also be property inspections, stricter penalties for owners of dogs that attack, and improved data about dog attacks.

Of significance for residents of Opotiki and Rotorua is the launch of the neutering programme which includes Government funding of $850,000.

Opotiki and Rotorua are the first districts to roll out the programme.

Opotiki Councillor Haki McRoberts says dangerous dogs are a known issue for the district and the proposals and funding have the ability to make a significant difference.

'We commonly hear de-sexing is financially unaffordable, so this is a chance to work with central government to add an extra tool to our toolbox for managing dangerous and menacing dogs. We know it is an issue for local people and people approach me often about it as a councillor, so we approached central government to be part of the pilot,” he says.

'We know that de-sexing has a significant impact on dog behaviour and it is great to have this opportunity to show central and local government working together to find a solution that should help at a community level. This should reduce the aggression in known dangerous dogs and also reduce the number of litters and therefore menacing dogs in our community.”

Central and local government will work together with local vets to provide discounted neutering for menacing dogs until the national programme ends in June 2017.

Chris Peterson from Opotiki Vets is pleased with the announcement and says from a practitioner's point of view, it was the sort of proposal that would make a difference.

'This is certainly a step in the right direction. It will work well for some dogs and some owners and will help to reduce the threat from menacing dogs in our district. Opotiki Vets is happy to work with Council to make this happen.”