6 September 2018

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Rotorua pound upgrades

Inquiry

The reporter followed up a Official Information Request with further questions about the pound.

The first phase (as approved in the LTP) of the pound upgrade has commenced with the concrete pad and underground services being completed. This will allow for an additional 25 pens this year.

• How is it determined if a dog should be put down or rehomed?
• Has there been a recent push to rehome dogs? i've seen a lot of FB posts.
• Can you tell me a little bit about the processes an animal may get to the pound? The LTP talks about weekend services.
• The first phase of the upgrade has begun, what are the remaining phases and time frame for the upgrade? It says phase one will mean 25 new pens this year. Can you tell me more about the details of the upgrade and will there be more pens in coming years?

Response

Response to Neven Hill, Manager, Community and Regulatory Services -

Each call Animal Control receives is dealt with on a case by case basis. Once an animal is in council's care, our Animal Control team assesses what action to take. If a roaming dog is registered, and the owner can be identified, we notify them and do our best to reunite dog and owner. If the owner is unknown, the dog will be taken to the pound or to the vet if in poor health. Once impounded, it is council's obligation to provide care for that dog for a minimum of seven days, regardless of what the expected outcome might be, and regardless of cost.

Rotorua Lakes Council has a strict dog control policy and continuously reinforces the need for people to be responsible dog owners for the safety of their community.

When a dog is impounded, it is assessed to see if it is suitable for rehoming. The dog is assessed on behavioural and physical traits, including whether it is aggressive, menacing, or has a known tendency to roam, as well as what state of health it's in.

If a dog is suitable for rehoming, a collaborative effort is made to find it a home. The pound works with a range of rescue organisations and vets, and uses council's online channels to try and find a suitable home. It has always been our aim to rehome dogs when it is appropriate and safe for the community.

If a dog falls into the Menacing Dog Classification under schedule 4 of the Dog Control Act 1996, our council's policy is that the dog will not be rehomed because of the risk it poses to the community. This policy has been in place since 2001 and is consistent with a number of other councils around the country.

The upgrade of the pound aims to improve the facilities so they are fit for purpose. This is the first major upgrade of the pound since it was built in 1986. Phase one includes upgrading the fence and laying the foundation for new pens. There is capacity for 50 new pens but whether or not full capacity will be utilised will be dependent on demand.

Currently the pound often operates at 90% capacity and more pens will mean we can take a more proactive approach to our work, rather than being restricted to the facility's capacity. More pens also provide the opportunity to hold dogs for longer than seven days if they are suitable for rehoming.

Phase two and three of the upgrade will involve improving the current building structure, and providing fit for purpose facilities for staff, animal food storage, and veterinary care. The total upgrade is currently scheduled over three years.

You can find the Official Information request referred to HERE