A bull dog breed advocacy group says it will fight a "cruel" order for all dangerous dogs to wear a muzzle unless in a cage - even if it means going to court.
A letter issued by Christchurch City Council to owners of dogs classed as "menacing" said unless the animal is in a cage or car it must now be muzzled - including when it's inside the home.
The decision is applied to all Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull, Perro de Presa Canario breeds which are automatically classified as "menacing" under the Dog Control Act.
Abbey van der Plas of Christchurch Bull Breed Rescue says the order is "against our own animal welfare laws that state animals need to be able to exhibit natural behaviour".
"A dog's nose and muzzle area is like its hands ... it would be like me asking you to tie your hands behind you back 24/7 and live a functioning life,' she told TVNZ 1's Breakfast today.
Ms van der Plas said she and her organisation will fight the decision "all through court if we have to".
"It doesn't make any sense ... whoever thought this up and thought it was a good idea needs their head read," Ms van der Plas said.
"They're asking us to punish dogs that have effectively done nothing wrong.
"The people they need to be targeting are the people whose dogs are unregistered ... unfixed ... left in a back yard ... not socialised, these are the dogs that are causing the problems, not our dogs."
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