Waikato District Council has commenced construction on the district’s new pound site on Bollard Road in Tuakau, which when completed will house up to 16 dogs.
The new site will complement the existing pound in Ngaaruawaahia. The Council says that having a facility in the northern part of the district will help improve animal management services. Â
The Bollard Road site will also include a new state-of-the-art recycling and refuse centre, creating a community hub that will support a range of essential services for the community.
By law, dogs must be held for at least seven days to give owners the opportunity to claim them. The priority is always to reunite dogs who are in the pound with their families. When they are not claimed, Council’s Animal Control (AC) team assess the dog to determine whether it is a good fit to offer for adoption into a new home, through Waikato Pound Pups.
AC Team Leader, Craig Nicholson said preventing unwanted litters remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of dogs entering the pound system.
“We encourage desexing wherever possible. The fewer unwanted dogs there are, the fewer problems we see,” said Mr Nicholson.
The Council says education is a key focus for the AC team – advice on registration, responsible ownership, and animal care, as well as keeping safe around dogs.
“Their goal is to help families enjoy the companionship of their pets while reducing the need for AC intervention and enforcement,” the Council said.
The build is expected to take six months.
