..they’d need to be muzzled...

Re: ‘Trial would be needed’, Letters page, The Weekend Sun January 12, 2024 edition.

As a lifelong dog lover and, over time, owner and trainer of my own 14 German Shepherds (not all at once) I agree with the comment by Marg de Villers that a trial would be needed before pets are allowed on public transport. I also agree that it could be a good idea that dogs may have to be muzzled. My opinion though is probably not what your correspondent had in mind.

I would muzzle my dogs for their own protection, so they were in no danger of responding to unwelcome attentions of a child whose parent or guardian failed to control their behaviour.

My other comment would be that even if a dog looks intimidating (subjective opinion) some little fluffy characters have very sharp teeth and can move like lightening if their authority appears to be threatened.

This could well be a divisive issue but could at least take the spotlight away from the Commissioners’ profligate spending.

-Jackie Stewart, Pāpāmoa Beach.