17 May 2024

Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)

Topic: Dogs euthanised

Enquiry

*NOTE: this enquiry follows two others we have responded to (9 May and 13 May) on the topic of animal control, number of dogs in the pound and number of dogs euhanised:

According to your Dog Control Report to the year ending June 2023 - 80 dogs were rehomed how many were euthanised?

I see in an OIA response in the year to July 2022, 145 dogs were destroyed and 50 rehomed.

Do you have any other comments regarding the 423 dogs euthanised from July 1, 2023 to March 30 as that is a lot of dogs?

For example Tauranga City Council data reveals in the year to April 2024 - 521 dogs were impounded, 111 euthanised and 28 rehomed.

For context you may want to provide how many dogs were impounded from from July 1, 2023 to March 30 and in the year to June 2022?

Response

From Group Manager Community and District Development – Jean-Paul Gaston:

We do our very best to re-home as many dogs as possible and love seeing the results of these success stories.

However, when all options have been exhausted or if dogs are not suitable for re-homing, we’re left with an unenviable decision and it’s devastating for our animal control team.

There has been an increase in euthanised dogs compared to last year. From June 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, 379 dogs were euthanised. However, between July 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, this number rose to 423 dogs.

Our plea to people considering owning a dog is to fully understand their responsibilities and the ongoing costs of owning a pet before they make any decision.

The increase in dogs having to be euthanised reflects increased numbers being surrendered to the council. From speaking with people we estimate that in 90 per cent of cases it’s because owners can’t afford to keep them or simply don’t care.

The rest have generally been impounded for roaming and/or are menacing and some owners won’t pay what we have to charge them for the cost of looking after their dogs at the pound.

Unwanted puppies also contribute to the problem so we strongly recommend owners have their dogs desexed to avoid this.