April 10, 2007

Put your paws together, plans are afoot

North Shore pet owners should prick up their ears when they hear their council is looking into the feasibility of providing an animal shelter closer to home.

Northern neighbour Rodney District Council is also involved in finding the best approach and site for a shared facility.

The Dog Control Act 1996 requires councils to provide long term secure animal shelter facilities.

Waitakere City Council’s Henderson pound is currently used however, as there’s no certainty whether this arrangement will last, the councils must find an alternative.

North Shore City mayor George Wood and councillors Heather Brown and Ivan Dunn have formed a working party to consider the options.

Mr Wood says that having a place north of the [Auckland] harbour bridge would better serve local residents.

“We would no longer have to go west to collect an impounded dog or get help for sick or injured animals,” says the proud owner of two cats.

North Shore City’s senior environmental programmes policy advisor, Ian Parker, says this is a good opportunity for the northern councils to join forces.

“We’re working together on feasibility studies and could have a new facility up and running in two years.

“It’s a responsible approach mindful of our growing community’s current and future needs,” he says.

North Shore City is also working with the SPCA on the possibility of a combined shelter and SPCA facility.

The council’s 2007-08 Draft Annual Plan sets out its budget for the year ahead, including an estimate how many dollars it might take to secure a pound.

Mr Parker says it could cost up to $1.7m to build an animal shelter facility and North Shore City is planning to partially fund this by increasing dog registration fees by $5 per dog.

The draft plan can be viewed online at www.northshorecity.govt.nz and at the council’s area offices and libraries.

ENDS

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