Far North's impounded dogs get $1.5m home at Kaitaia

Kaitaia's new Northern Area Animal Shelter has an enclosed vehicle receiving area with an automatic door to streamline the transfer of dogs. Photo / FNDC

The opening of a new animal shelter at Kaitaia means stray and seized dogs in the Far North will now be kept in a purpose-built facility meeting animal welfare standards.

The $1.5 million Northern Animal Shelter, which can cater for up to 20 dogs, was opened by Far North mayor John Carter on July 23.

It ends a period of many years — ever since the council ended a contract with a private provider in Ōkaihau — in which dogs impounded in the Far North were kept in run-down or temporary facilities.

The new Bonnetts Rd shelter, which was designed by HB Architecture in Whangarei, has12 outdoor kennels, eight indoor kennels, quarantine facilities, three exercise areas and veterinary and storage facilities.

Carter said the new shelter surpassed New Zealand animal welfare standards and was a substantial step up from the previous shelter at Bonnetts Rd.

"Public expectations about standards of animal care and welfare have evolved considerably over the decades. This new shelter reflects those expectations. Just as importantly, it will provide a safer and more pleasant working environment for our hard-working animal management officers."

The shelter has separate areas for elderly or anxious dogs, as well as dogs with puppies.

Carter said the facility had been designed for easy cleaning to prevent the spread of diseases such as parvovirus.

It was built by Kaitaia company KPH Construction ahead of time and within budget.

The old pound will be used as an overflow if needed.

Part of the cost was covered by a $1m Covid-19 economic stimulus grant from the Government.

That money was also helping to build a 14-kennel Southern Animal Shelter at the former Melka Kennels near Kaikohe Aerodrome.

The council hoped the southern facility would be finished by July next year, subject to availability of construction materials.

Far North Mayor John Carter and Claudia Lyons from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment cut the ribbon for Kaitaia's new Northern Area Animal Shelter. Photo / FNDC

Leonie Exel, spokeswoman for Bay of Islands Watchdogs, said she was relieved the pound had finally been built.

''We're also glad the council attempted to meet legal minimum standards in the construction. We're hoping it will be open to the public, which is critical to ensure transparency.''

Having only one pound for the Far North, until the southern facility is built, would mean more travel times for animal management officers.

However, the council was only impounding 30-40 dogs a month, compared to the 100 some years ago.

Also, the council had increased the animal control budget by $180,000 to allow more staff to be taken on, so the dog-to-staff ratio was ''pretty good'', Exel said.

The group would monitor council records to make sure there was no spike in the number of dogs being put down instead of being transferred to Kaitaia.

In the past quarter the proportion being euthanised had increased to 32.1 per cent from the 27 per cent of 2020-21, but that was still much better than the 72 per cent of some years ago.

The northern shelter began receiving dogs from across the district immediately after opening. All dogs held by the council will be housed there by the end of this month.

From next month, no dogs will be kept at the council's temporary Horeke animal shelter, which will be decommissioned.

The old Kaitaia dog pound was the subject of regular controversy because of its poor condition and facilities.

In 2018, the SPCA ordered the council to make a number urgent improvements, though it was unable to meet the organisation's demand that dogs be exercised daily because of a lack of staff and exercise areas.