Animal de-sexing a priority in wards rife with roaming dogs

One Auckland councillor said there's so many roaming dogs in his ward there are streets he doesn't feel safe walking on, and some areas are no go zones. Last year there was a 17 percent increase in dog attacks in the city, with 2846 investigated. Between September and December last year 89 of those attacks were on children. Today the council announced a joint pilot programme with the SPCA and 17 vet clinics where owners will get vouchers to have their animals de-sexed for free. West and South Auckland are priority areas for the scheme. Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman spoke to Lisa Owen.