Animal management officers Ginny Mason and Kevin Gregor have become familiar faces in South Auckland.
They said they visited so often that residents had started waving as they passed by.
After watching several roaming dogs sprint back home when they pull up, Mason said she thought dogs also recognise their white van with cages in the boot.
The pair patrol an area spanning from Māngere to Orere Point, covering some of the most problematic parts of the region for roaming dogs.
They are part of a wider team under Auckland Council responding to a constant stream of calls about dogs roaming the streets, behaving aggressively, and being mistreated.
Data from October showed animal management staff responded to 37,558 requests in the previous 12 months, the highest number to date.
In that period, 8306 dogs were taken in by council shelters, but the rate of impounded dogs claimed by owners reached a 10-year low at 43 percent.
Mason said she loved working with dogs and their owners but it was disheartening to see so many dogs in shelters.
“It’s hard seeing people disowning and letting them down. There are some gorgeous dogs out there that deserve better.”
Gregor said too many people were treating animals as disposable.
“It’s kind of like ‘I’ll just get a new one’.
“Seeing the conditions they’re sometimes kept in is probably the hardest part of the job.”
He said the city’s biggest shelter in Manukau had 126 kennels, the Silverdale shelter had roughly 80, and the Henderson shelter roughly 50, but there was not enough space for all the dogs they were picking up.
To manage the high number impounded dogs not being claimed, prospective dog owners would soon be able to meet and greet their furry friends at a new, council-run, adoption centre in Pukekohe.
It would be the first council-operated adoption-only shelter in the country and offer educational visits to groups, including schools.
Up to 40 dogs could be held at a time at the centre.
Mason said the council’s three shelters were full and another shelter could not come soon enough.
“Because it’s adoption-based, it’s going to free up more space for us.
“We always need more space, we’re always running at capacity. And it’s just going to be a good hub for people to find doggies.”
Gregor said another facility would give the team much-needed breathing room, but it ultimately wanted to reduce, not expand, its shelters.
He urged people to educate themselves to prevent harm to their dogs, the public, and other animals.
“There are a lot of resources out there to show you how to be a more responsible dog owner.
“A well-behaved dog is a win for everybody, including the owner.”
He encouraged people to report any roaming dogs they saw, and to think about their safety and confidence with animals before approaching.
“In most cases, I wouldn’t approach a roaming dog.”
Animal Management manager Elly Waitoa said in the past few years, people had been unable to walk through shelters for safety reasons, instead pre-selecting dogs advertised online as up for adoption.
“Because of the violence and aggression experienced by my staff, the security at the shelters has had to be increased significantly and we can no longer have people come in and view these dogs.
“That restricts the number of people coming to adopt a dog from us and the visibility of what we have available.
She said shelters needed space for high-risk dogs and to focus on rehabilitation.
She hoped a dedicated place for suitable dogs ready to be taken home would lead to higher adoptions and fewer euthanisations.
“We’ll have around 30 to 40 adoption dogs. It will be a walk-through shelter so you’ll be able to rock up with your family on the weekend and go and see all the dogs.
“It will mean people can gauge the dogs’ personality and energy levels so we can match the right dog to the right person.”
The council also hoped to attract adopters from outside of Auckland with the adoption centre’s close proximity to the Waikato region.
She said it was in the final stages of upgrading the Pukekohe shelter, which was previously being leased out to the Waikato District Council.
The team would start moving dogs into the facility next week and it would formally open to the public in early March.
The council would continue to have dogs up for adoption online.
By Jessica Hopkins of rnz.co.nz
