Pound dogs ‘cold, wet’
A cold wet winter has seen the South Waikato District Council Dog Pound struggling to meet Animal Welfare Act regulations.
For the 2017/18 year the council has impounded 470 dogs in the Whakauru St facility in Tokoroa with 235 claimed by their owners, 39 rehomed and 121 euthanised.
But in a report to the council, group regulatory manager Sharon Robinson noted that due to the building, which has open barred windows, not being insulated mixed with a ‘‘particularly cold and wet’’ winter, keeping dogs warm has been a struggle.
‘‘Over the years we have trialled many things to provide some warmth for the dogs,’’ she said.
‘‘Blankets and bedding proved unhelpful because of the spread of disease and, mainly out of boredom, the dogs would chew their bedding up or push it on to the wet concrete floor.’’
‘‘This year we have made use of dog jackets. Also purchased this year was an industrial heater that is run on gas.’’
She said steps were being taken to ensure the pound was at least meeting the ‘‘minimum standard of care’’ as set out in the act.
Chief executive Craig Hobbs said due to high pressure hoses being used to clean the facility it was difficult to dry it out.
‘‘When it is cold it just doesn’t dry out,’’ he said.
Councillor Arama Ngapo-Lipscombe asked Hobbs if enough was being done if winters were set to continue to get colder in years to come.
‘‘Forward thinking what resources or strategic planning is going to be put in place? If we have a change in our climate and it is going to get colder this issue is not going to disappear,’’ she said.
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