KEY POINTS:
Auckland's northern councils will build a $1.7 million dog pound for the 1000 strays picked up each year.
Rodney Mayor Penny Webster said yesterday the joint deal was signed with North Shore City Council for a facility at Silverdale.
She said it had been several years in the making, but showed local authorities were willing to work together.
The district has a contract with a private kennel at Dairy Flat, and North Shore's strays go to the Waitakere City animal welfare service's shelter at Henderson.
Each council has its own dog control team, and they say the move will mean there is adequate shelter space.
Initially, they looked at sharing a new facility with Auckland City. However, Auckland is acquiring land in Onehunga's industrial area for a $2 million shelter in addition to its centre at Redvale, in Albany.
"We thought Onehunga was too far away, but Silverdale is up the Northern Motorway," said North Shore environmental programmes group manager Rosemary Hagg.
The new shelter could be open in a year. Last year a $5 levy was put on the North Shore dog registration fee to help pay for it.
North Shore has more than 13,500 dogs and Rodney has 14,000.
Manukau City has its animal shelter at Papakura.
