HUNDREDS OF DOGS ON DEATH ROW

HUNDREDS of dogs are being killed in the Wellington region each year because of the irresponsibility of their owners.

The dogs have ended up on death row because they were unwanted, unclaimed, became a nuisance, or were deemed too dangerous.

Figures from the Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua councils revealed more than 2000 dogs were put down by lethal injection in the past five years.

The councils say they are working hard to reduce the number of dogs being put down. Education and incentives to neuter and microchip dogs were helping, but there were still people who chose to become dog owners and then fell short in their care.

Hutt City Council animal control manager Les Dalton, who is also in charge of animal control services for Wellington city, said the number of dogs euthanised was sad and disappointing for all councils.

Between 2010 and 2014, 4538 dogs ended up in the Hutt city pound. Of these, 937 never made it out alive.

Of the 3050 dogs impounded by the Wellington City Council between July 2010 and the end of February 2015, 308 were put down.

In Upper Hutt, 298 dogs never made it off death row during the past five years.

Reprieved dogs were either returned to their owners or adopted out. ‘‘Animal services staff try their hardest to place dogs in new homes but it is not always possible to match every dog with a new owner,’’ Dalton said.

More than 2300 dogs have been hauled into the Porirua dog pound, with Porirua City Council forced to kill 724 animals, which were once family pets, between 2010 and 2014.

Animal control team leader Murray Chilcott said the dogs euthanised were those unclaimed by their owners, unsuitable for rehoming through the SPCA, or which had attacked or bitten people and other domestic animals. Some were put down because of old age at their owners’ request.

The number of dogs euthanised at the Porirua pound was decreasing, he said.

‘‘Owning a dog is a big responsibility. Dogs can be very expensive and there are costs such as vet checkups and registration every year. ‘‘There is a lot to consider when you take on the responsibility of owning a dog, and sometimes animal control are asked or required to euthanase dog when people don’t meet there responsibilities,’’ Chilcott said.

When potential owners were looking to take on a rehomed dog, they were subjected to checks.

The council and welfare organisations required fencing of properties, neutering and registration before the dogs could be rehomed.

‘‘It is those other channels such as Trade Me, pet shops and word of mouth that are of concern to the animal services and councils,’’ Chilcott said.

Organisations rehoming dogs say there is a crisis in New Zealand.

Huha animal rescue founder Carolyn Press-McKenzie said: "We are drowning in dogs. It’s crazy how many we get.’’

The Wellington and Hutt Valley councils’ animal control division was one of the best in the country at giving unwanted dogs a second chance. However, without a change in attitudes from dog owners, all councils were fighting a losing battle and dogs end up paying the price.

‘‘It’s not a short-term deal. Owners need to be settled in their own lives before caring for a pet. There is. . . a backyard dog culture in New Zealand. People just leave their dog out in the yard and head off to work each day. The dog ends up barking, digging and escaping. They need training and they have to have their needs met,’’ PressMcKenzie said.