I'd like to say thank you. It made me so happy to open the paper and see a worthy section dedicated to dog registration.

I've been a dog owner all my life but I only became a NZ dog owner a year ago and I'm appalled and shocked by the cost of dog registration here.

In the UK you aren't required to license your dog; this was sensibly abolished 30 years ago. But you're legally required to have a dog collar and identity tag, you pay for. You're permitted to take your dog on walks just about anywhere. Popular spots have dog litter bins and wardens to fine those who don't clean up after their dog.

In NZ it's the responsible dog owner who pays for the irresponsible ones. And let's face it, many of these people shouldn't be dog owners in the first place. It's these people who should pay for their mistakes - they should be hit hard in the pocket.

I think its about time the council caught up with modern times and took some positive action towards changing dog registration legislation. Why should I be penalised for being a dog owner? I also think I should be able to walk my dog in national parks, if my dog is well behaved and I clean up after it. I miss out on the beauty of living in New Zealand because a minority of small-minded individuals ruin it for the majority of the good. Why not penalise the cat owners instead.

Perhaps a campaign is needed?

K Hyde, and loyal friend ‘Millie the dog', Mount Maunganui.