Wandering and barking dogs continue to test Waipā’s animal control team.
In the three months from July 1, the council fielded 1115 calls on behalf of the team with 580 of them relating to animal control issues, including reports of lost dogs and stock.
189 dogs got to race the Greyhound track for Pooch Racing back in 2017.
Top complaints were the 220 about wandering dogs and 186 about excessive barking.
There were 58 lost dogs, 21 wandering dogs causing stock issue and 15 requests for signs or bins to be replaced.
District Growth and Regulatory Services group manager Wayne Allan said attack numbers were on a par with last year and relatively minor injuries suffered.
Seventy dogs were impounded and owners claimed 47 of them. Eight dogs were put down, six rehomed and the rest were still in council’s care at the end of September.
As a result of a parvo-virus outbreak at the Cambridge pound and building improvements at Kihikihi all pounds were at full capacity and staff had to find temporary space for the animals. Some were temporarily moved into office space, said Allan, while staff fostered longer-term dogs waiting to be rehomed.
Work in Kihikihi is now complete. “The improved drainage and exercise facilities have been welcomed by staff and dogs alike,” he said.
Meanwhile council staff are on the hunt for unregistered dogs and checking properties where dogs were previously registered. If the dogs were still there then they issue a seven-day waiver infringement notice.
Overfull doggie bins
