The owner of the facility was given advice on how they could change certain practises and referred to a dog trainer/behaviorists.
"Having legislative guidelines regarding staff/dog ratios may have helped in this case but there is always a risk when running animals together."
The National Animal Advisory Committee is seeking a new code of welfare for the temporary housing of companion animals that would be put before the Government by the end of the year.
SPCA inspectorate and centre support national manager Alan Wilson said in Britain boarding kennels and riding stables "were subject to rules and licensing and they aren't here".
If passed the new code would pull together anywhere that animals were held and would set minimum standards, he said.
"I think the SPCA's view would be that standards within all those areas would be good."
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) animal and animal products acting director Howard Pharo said people in charge of animals in doggy daycare facilities, boarding kennels and catteries must meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act and the relevant codes.
There may also be rules set by local councils.
MPI and the SPCA investigated complaints and its focus was on enforcing the act to mitigate the suffering of animals that were ill-treated, injured or sick and to eliminate inhumane practises.
"They do not conduct routine audits but do routinely respond to reports from various sources."
However, AsureQuality had an accreditation scheme for boarding kennels and catteries, he said, although it did not fall under its umbrella.
AsureQuality advertising events manager Sandra Sames said it was a government-owned commercial company and the only organisation offering boarding kennels and catteries an approved programme as evidence of its commitment to animal welfare.
According to its website there were two catteries in Tauranga registered.
Annual audits were done by independent and impartial auditors and included factors such as the facility's design and environment for animals and vaccination protocols, healthcare, emergency procedures and food preparation she said.
Nawac (National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee) member Iain Torrance said codes of welfare contained minimum standards and recommendations for best practice for different animals in different situations.
Extensive public consultation had taken place and the majority of submitters agreed a code of welfare was necessary for the temporary housing of companion animals.
Proposals for regulations relating to the care and conduct of animals were also being developed but any regulations would not be in place until late 2016 at the earliest, he said.
But it anticipated the code of welfare would be recommended to the Minister for Primary Industries soon.
'Shocking' lack of animal daycare regulations lamented
When Susan Cochrane decided to set up The Dog House she could not believe the lack of rules and regulations.
"I thought there must [be] some sort of standard to make sure we comply because obviously we wanted to make sure we had the highest standards. It was shocking. There was nothing. Absolutely anyone can open and say they are a doggy daycare."
She fully supports the National Animal Advisory Committee's bid for a new code of welfare for the temporary housing of companion animals and for tougher rules to be introduced.
It looked to the United Kingdom, Australia and the US for guidelines, she said.
"From an owner's point of view we needed to provide somewhere that we as fussy owners would be happy to put our dog into. "We knew it had to be really safe with no chance of the dogs getting out while they were in the daycare ... We also have someone with the dogs all the time so they are not left alone."
There were "horror stories out there", she said.
The Dog House opened in June 2014 and she spoke to the SPCA and Tauranga City Council before leasing premises at Papamoa about the maximum amount of dogs it could have in the space.
"Council asked, 'How many dogs can you fit in'? If we were being unscrupulous we could just keep parking dogs in here for the sake of money."
At the moment, she said, "We would be happy to try [to] comply if someone said, 'You are missing this', but it is really difficult to comply with things that aren't there."
Papamoa Kennels and Cattery owner Craig Cochrane said a code should be in place and, "I think it should be somewhat auditable as well when you are looking after live animals.
"There is nothing wrong with having a code but there are some people that just start up as an easy home business and don't have the right facilities for it."
Ultimately it was up to owners where they left their pets, he said.
"They have to feel comfortable that everything is done right. Our measure of that is the dog is happy to turn up and is happy when they are leaving."
He bought the business which was established in 1985 three years ago with his wife, Chris, who was a vet and said growth had increased 15 to 20 per cent annually due to its improved animal healthcare.
Westridge Boarding Cattery owner Kelly Plumpton agreed there should be regulations.
"I think the guidelines, although they are minimal, should be exceeded wherever possible."
The Tauranga City Council said kennels and catteries were approved under its City Plan.
As long as they met criteria including sufficient parking and noise they could go ahead and open their business, the spokesman said.
He said a doggy daycare may be able to set up as a home-based business.
"I'm told that, anecdotally, there seem to be more such businesses set up over the last few years. That is purely based on phone calls to the Animal Services team from people asking what they need to do to start a new doggy daycare business."
They usually get sent a copy of the Home Based Business rules to start with, or directed to the council's duty planner to work through the necessary city plan requirements, he said.
Proposed new code of welfare for the temporary housing of companion animals
* The proposed code describes the minimum standards and best practice guidelines that owners and people in charge of animals must achieve to meet their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
* The minimum standards and recommendations for best practice in the code relate to competency and stockmanship; the provision of food and water; housing; temperature and lighting; air and water quality; behaviour; health and disease; sale or rehoming; and euthanasia.
- National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
Animal Hotline
* If anyone suspects there has been an incident of animal cruelty or ill-treatment, it should be reported to the SPCA. ¦Or contact the MPI hotline on 0800 00 83 33.
- MPI
