City pound upgraded

Palmerston North dogs are enjoying an improved standard of accommodation at the city pound, and even more upgrades could be on the way.

The city council pound in Totara Rd, a temporary home for 500 of the city’s more than 8440 dogs in the year to the end of June, has had improvements to ventilation, heating, bedding, access to exercise and general cleanliness.

Overseeing the dogs’ welfare is a veterinary nurse, Julie Matheson, who has been appointed to the new position of kennel manager.

Council chief customer and operating officer Chris Dyrhberg said the improvements were brought in to ensure the pound complied with an updated code of welfare for the temporary housing of companion animals.

The improvements would help dogs cope better with the stresses of new surroundings, separation from familiar people, and being kept closer to other animals than they were used to.

‘‘Maintaining a high standard of animal welfare in a temporary housing facility can be a challenge, and requires particularly strict attention to behavioural needs and hygiene standards,’’ he said.

The kennel manager was responsible for making sure each dog had an individual food plan, was weighed regularly to ensure they were in good condition, and had enough exercise each day.

Of the 500 dogs temporarily impounded during the year, 362 were collected by their owners, and 76 were put down. Another 51 went to new homes, were sold to a new owner or transferred to the SPCA, one was illegally removed, and 10 were still waiting for a decision on their future.

Several dogs had been assisted to find new homes through the council’s Palmy Pooches Facebook page.

The current pound was built in the 1970s, and Dyrhberg said there were limitations to how much better it could be made. The council had not ruled out the possibility of building a new facility.

In other changes, the currentlyvacant position of senior animal control officer would be remodelled for an animal management and education team leader.