Official Information Request - 24 May 2020

Sent: Friday, 19 June 2020 9:46 am

Subject: Information request - complaints for failing to provide a dog with proper food, water, shelter

I refer to your email of 24 May 2020 requesting information for each of the last five financial years about instances of failing to provide a dog with proper care and attention, proper and sufficient food and water, proper and sufficient shelter, or adequate exercise, and response as per your questions below.

1. The number of complaints received about each of a failure to provide a dog with proper care and attention, proper and sufficient food and water, proper and sufficient shelter, or adequate exercise.

Rotorua Lakes Council's current systems do not categorise complaints of "failing to provide a dog with proper care and attention, proper and sufficient food and water, proper and sufficient shelter, or adequate exercise".Animal Control complaints are recorded as Animal Control 'Fail to Comply' or 'General' jobs. The specific information requested is therefore not available.

However, prior to 2019/20 Council did have a 'hygiene' category. Below is historical data on reported 'hygiene' issues.

2. The number of each type of instance that are discovered by dog control officers (so are in addition to those identified by a complaint).

This information is not recorded in Council's systems. Welfare issues identified by Dog Control Officers are generally reported directly to the SPCA for investigation.

3. The number of prosecutions taken, or infringement notices issued for each type of instance.

There have been no prosecutions taken or infringements issued in the last 5 years.

4. If instances are dealt with by education, the nature of the educative process and the period and arrangements for monitoring to ensure compliance, and how many instances of each type were dealt with by education.

As noted for question 1, this information is not recorded in Council's systems.

5. If there is an arrangement to pass instances to the SPCA, Police or another agency for handling, how many instances of each type have been passed to each agency.

Council does pass information to the SPCA but this information is not recorded by Council. Where our Animal Control Officers identify welfare issues they generally report them directly to the SPCA for investigation.

6. How many instances of each type concerned owners already known as a consequence of previous similar failures.

As noted for question 1, this information is not recorded in Council's systems.

7. On how many occasions has a dog control officer entered a property to provide a dog with food, water or shelter, or to seize a dog that was not provided with those things.

Note: These figures are obtained from impound records ie: once a dog has been impounded the reason for impounding is recorded. As noted in question 1, Council does not record complaints and/or visits to properties under the categories requested.

8. If a dog that was not being provided with food, water or shelter was seized, in how many instances of each type was the dog returned to the owner, or destroyed, or sold or otherwise disposed of.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Complaints can be sent by email to info@ombudsman.parliament.nz, by fax to (04) 471 2254, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests

Please note: Our LGOIMA responses may be published on the Rotorua Lakes Council website after they have been responded to, with requesters' personal details withheld. If you have any concerns about this please contact the Council on info@rotorualc.nz.

Regards