One of the “gotchas” in council’s Emergency Budget is the proposal to close one of the three council-run animal shelters (Henderson, Manukau or Silverdale), plus close the animal shelter on Waiheke Island, to save $300,000. I can only imagine what this will mean for the animals usually taken to one of those shelters.

However, my understanding is that the animal shelters are all funded from dog registration fees, impound fees, adoption fees and infringement fees, which according to the Dog Control Act 1996 can only be spent on dog control activities. So the money saved by closing the shelters would need to either be reinvested into dog control, or given back to dog owners. I don’t see how it could be used to help plug council’s budget gap…

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/dogfriendsNZ/posts/3494536340576501
Please have your say on the budget here: akhaveyoursay.nz/emergency-budget
Consultation is open until 19 June.
Download PDFs of the consultation document and supporting information here: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say/topics-you-can-have-your-say-on/emergency-budget/Pages/documents-videos-translations.aspx

Pictured: Sprocket.