Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE I WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
DOG CONTROL ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Westland District Council is aware of recent comments on social media regarding dog control visits being carried out across the district. We are particularly concerned by the naming of individual Council staff and comments directed toward them while they are undertaking their duties to keep our community safe. Personal attacks on staff are unacceptable.
As part of our annual dog registration programme, Animal Control Officers are currently making property visits to identify unregistered dogs. Dog registration is a legal requirement under the Dog Control Act 1996. Registration helps ensure dogs can be quickly returned to their owners if found wandering and supports responsible dog ownership and community safety.
Unregistered dogs place an unfair financial burden on ratepayers, who otherwise subsidise the service. The majority of dog owners in Westland do the right thing and register their dogs on time. However, there are still a significant number who have not met their obligations. Council does not believe ratepayers should be expected to carry these costs on behalf of unregistered owners.
Most residents have responded positively to the courtesy visits and appreciated the reminder and support from officers. We recognise that some people may have concerns or questions about the process and we welcome the opportunity to discuss these with you. If you would like to talk with us, please contact us at council@westlanddc.govt.nz or call 0800 474 834.
Council staff are expected to act professionally and respectfully when engaging with the community, and we remain committed to supporting them in this work. While officers are legally authorised to access properties for the purpose of dog control, they will always make reasonable efforts to contact property owners where possible.
We thank the community for their understanding and cooperation. Registering dogs helps ensure a fair system for all owners and contributes to the safety and wellbeing of our district.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Westland District Council: