An Auckland councillor has struck out at “useless dog owners” because the variety of animals euthanised at its shelters will increase.
The metropolis’s canine shelters are overflowing as Auckland faces a soar within the variety of animals being taken in.
Every 12 months, hundreds of dogs need to be put down, with 2615 euthanised final 12 months and 1660 on the Manukau shelter alone.
It comes as Auckland sees a 5.4% improve in recognized dogs throughout town in comparison with final 12 months, now over 130,000.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Auckland Council Animal Management’s Elly Waitoa stated the rise in dogs will be attributed to the Covid-19 lockdowns.
“They were at home and decided it was a good time to have a dog,” she stated.
But when the lockdowns ended, the council began seeing issues.
“Now that they’re going back to work, we’re seeing more issues with dogs out roaming and causing nuisance,” Waitoa stated.
“Around 80% of the dogs that come through our three shelters are actually picked up for roaming or aggressive related incidents.”
Waitoa stated round 6600 dogs got here via shelters final 12 months, estimating that just about 30% find yourself unclaimed by their house owners and too harmful to be rehomed.
When a canine is taken right into a shelter, the council give house owners a minimal of seven days to gather them. If they don’t, the animal undergoes a temperament check – and if it’s too aggressive and might’t be rehomed, employees are compelled to place it down.
She stated it was “incredibly sad” to have to do that, as many shelter employees are canine lovers – and are sometimes abused for his or her work.
“All of our staff that work across the shelters are absolute dog lovers. You couldn’t do this job if you didn’t love dogs,” Waitoa stated.
Auckland councillor Daniel Newman took intention at “useless dog owners”, saying the rising canine inhabitants is an “enormous problem”.
“It’s the outcome of people not being responsible, taking account of the dogs that are out there.”
He stated that whereas it’s an “unpleasant role,” it’s a “necessary function” and helps the animal administration employees on the bottom.
“Council has an obligation, and I support our frontline staff to do this work.”
Newman stated house owners ought to be working to take care of their dogs correctly in order that they don’t pose a threat to residents.
“They fight for the welfare of their animals. Euthanising dogs is terrible, but we can’t have dangerous dogs roaming our community.
“Posing a risk to other animals, posing a risk to residents.”
“We can’t have that.”
