Workload rises after SPCA shutdown

Masterton District Council officers attended 1688 dog control calls in the year to July, 93 more than the same period last year, according to a council report.

The closure of the SPCA has led to an increased workload for Masterton District Council's animal control team.

The number of dog control calls attended by council officers for the 2014-15 registration year to July increased compared to the previous year.

Officers attended 1688 calls, 93 more than last year or an increase of 5.8 per cent, according to a council report.

Masterton District Council planning and regulatory services manager Sue Southey said that, since SPCA Wairarapa closed in May, the council had been impacted, as had several other agencies.

Council officers had also been dealing with injured and stray cats, and there were concerns that cats and kittens would be dumped and left to become feral.

Informal animal rescue shelters that had been set up around Wairarapa since the SPCA centre in Ngaumutawa Rd closed were also causing concern for the council.

"These people all have good intentions, but they could be looking after a lost or stolen dog which may be microchipped," said Mrs Southey.

She said that, without scanning facilities and access to the database, people would be unable to reunite the dog with its owner.

"It's great that people are trying to help and we are grateful for their support, but our goal is to get the SPCA up and running again, working with a qualified animal welfare inspector."

Mrs Southey said, although dog control calls were up, priority one calls - which were attacks, police assistance and dogs rushing up to people or animals - were down 6.2 per cent.

She said there could be a number of factors as to why there had been a decrease in reported dog attacks but it was mainly down to people being better educated about the dangers.

"But we can't be complacent. One dog attack is one too many," she said.

Barking complaints increased by 28 per cent on last year's numbers and wandering, stray and roaming dogs rose 22 per cent.

Mrs Southey said that was probably due to people getting better at reporting those issues.