KEY POINTS:
Name: Barry Gillingwater (58).
Position: Managing director, DSS Animal Management.
Working Hours: 70+ per week.
What industry do you work in?
Animal control. We have contracts with Manukau City Council, Wellington City Council and Transit NZ (for motorway animal management) and operate the Manukau City and Papakura District
Sub-Regional Animal Shelter. We also run a training school for officers and have been operating a school dog-bite prevention programme for seven years.
Your background?
All sorts of career paths, 20 years as a professional pilot, then operational management of companies. Next was restructuring companies. In 1989, I started as general manager for a compliance business unit for Manukau, which included dog control. I restructured it, left to run a business consultancy, then formed DSS Animal Management in 2000.
Is animal control like the SPCA?
The SPCA and similar organisations are classified as "animal welfare", where their focus is totally for the good of the animal. We are in the "animal control" industry where we are tasked with public safety, compliance with the laws and enforcement. The welfare of animals comes second.
Do you deal with all animals?
Mostly dogs. But we have the skills and resources to deal with incidents such as stock on roads, nuisances like feral cats, noisy roosters and pests such as possums.
Most of the dogs in the rural sector are working dogs. They live on farms and are usually well managed. But, in urban areas, a lot of people who own dogs have a poor understanding of what the rest of their communities expect of them and of the behaviour of their animals. Some of this is through ignorance and some of it is just bloody mindedness. Either way our objective is to try to create a harmony between city dogs and their neighbours.
Is there a big dog problem in the cities?
We don't have a dog problem - we have a people problem. If left to their own devices, dogs will wander, scavenge, mate, defecate and cause all sorts of problems to the community. Our job is to educate the minority of owners whose dogs cause the problems, define what the rules are and to enforce these rules.
There are definitely more dog issues in the lower socio-economic areas around the country. A lot of people get the more aggressive types of dog as a cheap security alarm and as a deterrent to burglars. The risk with this type of dog is that it is usually not properly socialised and will bite family members or the public if it gets out of its property.
Should some dogs not be kept as pets?
At the time pit bull terriers were allowed to be introduced to New Zealand there was already a lot of "bad press" overseas. We ignored that and are now suffering from the consequences of the stupidity of this decision.
If a pit bull or any other aggressive dog breed has been selectively bred to kill and injure, and has an unpredictable temperament; then you have to ask what place does it have in a civilised society. The bigger problem now is that a lot of pit bulls have been cross-breeding with other dogs and we are seeing a growing problem with the cross-breeds, most of which seem to exhibit aggressiveness.
What skills do you look for when recruiting animal control officers?
We look for good communication and people skills. A lot of applicants have a strong animal focus, and are disappointed when we tell them that we are after people-related strengths. A background in enforcement, customer service, or complaint management, coupled with excellent physical fitness would be ideal.
Why is your job important?
It's the best job I've had because, if you do it right, you can make a positive difference to people's lives. The thousands we have spent on all the dog-bite prevention programmes, it's the fence at the top of the cliff, not an ambulance at the bottom. It's worth it if it stops one kid being bitten.
Most dog incidents can be avoided with good awareness education and common sense. For those owners who habitually fail in their responsibilities, we support the "zero tolerance" policy of some councils.
What are your strengths?
Solving problems. Also to educate and motivate people to gain their focus on not just their task at hand, but also the "big picture". I understand technology and have been able to harness the relevant level of technological support for front-line activities. I'm very customer focused.
Unusual tales?
A couple of years ago, an emu was terrorising the forecourt of a gas station. I think it was romantically inclined to the petrol pumps with those long necks. It wasn't allowing people to move their cars. The police called up and we took the emu away.
