Taupō Pound amnesty cages to close

To ensure the safety of both staff and animals, amnesty cages are no longer available at the Taupō Pound.

Taupō District Council compliance and regulatory manager Ross McDonald says the current cages are no longer up to standard, and at this stage are too expensive to replace.

However, members of the community will still have all the access they need to drop dogs off at the pound.

“The health and safety of our employees and the animals we care for is of paramount importance,” Ross says.

“When dogs are left there we do not know their history and it can be dangerous for our staff to interact with dogs who have been there overnight and may be aggressive. Removing the amnesty cages will also reduce the spread of diseases within our pound and our community.

“We aim to provide a high level of care for our animals and our current amnesty cages are sub-standard, especially heading into the colder winter months.”

Anyone who wishes to hand over a dog to the Taupō Pound will still be able to do so. Simply call 0800 ASK TDC (0800 275 832) and the friendly customer service team will help arrange a time that suits to meet at the pound. The best times to do this are between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, but there is an overnight contractor available if required.

“It’s always better if people can bring the dogs in themselves, so we can chat to them and understand the animal’s needs,” Ross says.

“We’re not going to tell you off or judge you, we just want to give the animal the best chance of being rehomed.”

For more information on dogs in the Taupō District, go to www.taupo.govt.nz/dogs.