Government, SPCA put $1.2m into dog desexing drive in Northland, Auckland

More than $1 million has been invested into dog desexing in the hopes of helping protect people, animals and communities in Northland and Auckland.

About 3000 dogs are expected to be desexed under a 12-month programme for Auckland and Northland that will kick off next month.

A cash injection of $1.2 million into dog desexing was announced yesterday by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden.

She granted $468,000 from the Lottery Minister’s Discretionary Fund to the SPCA for desexing, with the SPCA contributing a further $700,000.

The programme, to be rolled out from next month, was part of a wider Government package aimed at tackling the issue of dangerous dogs, with further details expected soon, Van Velden said.

Three of the last four dog attacks happened in Northland, most recently resulting in the death of Kaihu woman Mihiata Te Rore.

Van Velden said she was concerned about reports of uncontrolled dogs roaming and irresponsible dog breeding.

“There have been four lives lost in four years, and every year thousands of injuries from dog bites are recorded.”

She said preventive measures were needed, and the toll of such incidents had grown “too large”.

“This grant will be used for a targeted desexing programme for dogs most likely to roam or contribute to uncontrolled dog breeding in Auckland and Northland.”

SPCA chief scientific officer Dr Arnja Dale said there was an “urgent need” for preventive action to protect people, animals and communities.

Dale said the SPCA would focus on unregistered or roaming dogs that were not desexed.

It’s estimated that the programme would prevent about 7500 puppies in the first year, and approximately 45,000 puppies across the lifetime of the desexed female dogs.

Across Northland and Auckland, more than 24,000 dogs were estimated not to be desexed, with the main barriers being limited access to veterinary services and high costs.

“Working with our veterinary partners across Auckland and Northland, we will remove financial and access barriers that contribute to preventing owners from desexing their dogs,” Dale said.

“Our focus is on prevention. Desexing is one of the most effective tools we have to keep communities safe and improve animal welfare.”

The 12-month programme would run from April 1 this year until March 31, 2027. The funding would be ringfenced to ensure targeted delivery and measurable outcomes.

The SPCA was continuing its call for an urgent and comprehensive overhaul of the Dog Control Act 1996, which has also been echoed by animal welfare watchdog Leonie Exel.

Earlier this month, she took aim at the Government, saying dog control laws needed an overhaul.

Among her suggestions were first-year-free dog registration and the creation of an Animal Commissioner.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.