Canines bring Councils closer together

Hutt City Council and Wellington City are now working together to provide improved animal services to Wellington dog owners.

From this week, Hutt City Council will deliver a number of animal services within the Wellington City area.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says that working with other local councils can be an effective way of delivering better services and providing value for money.

Councillor Stephanie Cook, the Council's Social Portfolio Leader, says the decision to award the contract to Hutt City was made because they have an excellent track record of delivering animal services to dog owners.

"The new contract with Hutt City Council is about offering a better service to Wellington dog owners starting with shelter and field services. We're also working together on how we can promote responsible dog ownership and provide animal services that meet the needs of dog owners in the future," she says.

Hutt City Animal Services staff will provide animal shelter services at Moa Point and Seaview. They will also monitor dog behaviour in the Wellington City area and investigate complaints about dogs.  Wellington City Council will continue to be the first point of contact for all Wellington dog owners and can be contacted on 499 4444.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says the contract reinforces the opportunity to develop shared services among councils and is a commendation for the high standards maintained by Hutt City animal services. "They have consistently turned in excellent results and I believe Wellington dog owners will be pleased with the performance by our team," he says.

The first change that dog owners will notice under the new service will be what happens if their dog goes missing or is impounded. 

If a registered dog is found roaming, it will be taken to a vet practice in Miramar or Khandallah, whichever is closer to the owner's home address.  The owner will be contacted to let them know where and when their dog can be collected.  

The new arrangements mean that dogs can be more quickly and easily reunited with their family.  The vet services will be closer to most dog owners in the city and have longer opening hours than Moa Point shelter, making it more convenient for the owners to collect their dogs.

Dog owners whose pets go missing should call the Council on 499 4444 to find whether the dog has been found and where it is being held.

The new contract with Hutt City Council replaces the Wellington City Council's current contract with DSS Animal Management.  Council staff will be writing to DSS to thank them for their service and commitment to increased dog safety in Wellington.