Committed to animal welfare

AN unshakeable commitment towards animal welfare epitomises the work ethics of the two animal control officers responsible for the Manawatu District, Lesley Butler and Herb Verstegen.

The duo are the new team on the block after Rangitikei District Council became the service provider for animal control in the area at the start of the month, with four officers now responsible for both districts. Palmerston North City Council was MDC’s previous provider.

Lesley has been an animal control officer in Manawatu for the past five years, while Herb recently arrived from Auckland where he had been a welfare inspector for the SPCA. Both are looking forward to working with the RDC and the two other officers based in that district.

“A lot of people think animal control is just about picking up stray dogs and revenue collecting, but there is much more to it than that,” says Lesley, who has established strong relationships with families in Manawatu through council work, as a Feilding SPCA inspector and as co-founder of the Nassus Animal Shelter in Feilding.

“Herb and I believe that animal control and animal welfare run hand-in-hand and if somebody looks after their animal they are generally a responsible owner,” she said.

Lesley is a strong advocate of working with the community and helping people and not just being seen as someone who impounds their dogs or infringes them because they have not followed through with an instruction.

“I know many people think we put all dogs down after seven days, but we actually work closely with Nassus and SPCA to rehouse suitable dogs into new responsible homes.

“We want to be seen as approachable people who can be waved down to sort out a problem. We don’t want owners to be afraid or avoid us - that’s not what it’s about.”

She was keen on a pro-active approach rather than being the “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff”.

“Let’s get out and alleviate an issue before it becomes a major problem. But as much as we like to help people, we have zero tolerance to such things as aggressive dogs or non-compliance of dog registrations and microchipping.”

Herb admits animal welfare is “very close to my heart” and is excited by his lifestyle move to Manawatu and the chance to work in a structured environment.

He said public safety was an important component in animal control, with farmers and dog owners equally responsible in ensuring their stock were effectively contained or their pets well controlled.

“If owners play the game, do their part and live within the law and council bylaws, then there shouldn’t be any issues and everybody in the community will be able to enjoy themselves,” he said.

RDC Environmental Services Team Leader, Stephen Costelloe, said the officers would be largely working within their districts during the daytime, but would help share the workload when it came to after-hours service or sick leave.

“We are hoping to provide a better service to both districts and enhance the working conditions of the staff by not stretching them out too thinly.

“And, therefore, if the staff are happy then the service they provide will be done with a smile and be more enjoyable,” he said.