Northern News

Dog lover quits pound

- BAYLEY MOOR

More impounded dogs are at risk of being put down rather than being re-homed now that the council is solely operating the southern area dog pound, the former pound operator says.

The Far North District Council is taking over the management of the southern area dog pound, which contractor Sue Dennis had been operating at her property in Okaihau since 2008.

Dennis says she handed in her resignatio­n with great sadness, effective from May 10. She says she has been forced to do this after her relationsh­ip with council managers soured over the last year.

The council says they will not comment publicly on individual employment matters.

‘‘When I expressed concerns about the fact that I was not allowed any more dogs for rehoming from the Kaitaia pound, I was told it wasn’t written in my contract that I could specifical­ly re-home Kaitaia dogs, instead it just stated FNDC dogs,’’ Dennis says.

‘‘I was told they would all be put down and when I said I did not do this job to kill dogs, I was told that I spit the dummy when I don’t get my own way.’’

FNDC Compliance Manager Dr Dean Myburgh wished to thank Dennis for being a ‘‘tireless champion’’ for the dogs no one else wanted.

‘‘When Sue took over as southern pound manager, council was finding homes for just one per cent of the unwanted dogs it impounded. By employing her extensive networks around the country, she has consistent­ly found homes for 20 per cent or more of the strays we pick up. That’s hundreds of dogs each year.’’

‘‘Ideally we would rehome all of the dogs impounded in the Far North. Unfortunat­ely, we do not have the resources to house, feed and care long-term for the hundreds of dogs that people abandon each year and many have to be destroyed. This is undoubtedl­y the worst part of the role for staff.’’

Myburgh says a permanent new home for the southern area pound is yet to be found, but a temporary facility has been establishe­d.

‘‘We have come to an agreement with a local landowner and have created a facility that meets standards set out by Dog Control Act legislatio­n. ‘‘

 ??  ?? Sue Dennis has resigned from her role as the southern area dog pound operator.
Sue Dennis has resigned from her role as the southern area dog pound operator.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand