I totally agree with Rogers Rabbits, I'm shocked at the cost of dog registration in Tauranga. We've moved from Auckland, where a considerable discount is given for responsible dog owners who meet specific requirements, such as microchips and secure boundary fences.

Registrations for responsible dog owners in Auckland costs $60 per dog. With two dogs this costs me $120 - a lot less than $156 for two dogs registered in Tauranga. But why stop at possums, rats and rabbits when one of the biggest threats to birdlife is the cat population.

Apart from killing birds, felines are allowed to roam at will and leave their calling cards in other people's gardens with impunity.

If I allowed my dogs to behave like there would be a line of irate neighbours knocking on my door. Perhaps we should start with cat owners as the first ‘appropriate source' to be considered.

J Lunt, Papamoa.