4 October 2013

Palino Launches Animal Welfare Policy

With only 4% separating John Palino and Len Brown in the Auckland Mayoral Race, there is a good chance that Palino will be stepping into the Mayor’s Office and making some significant changes. Among these are a series of changes to Auckland’s Animal Welfare Policies.

“New Zealand has the highest rate of pet ownership in the world” says Palino. “With 68% of all households including at least one pet, animal welfare is a much more important consideration than you may imagine.”

“Right now, I don’t believe Council has got the balance right. With major animal control contracts outsourced to private companies, there is too great a focus on revenue generation to the detriment of Aucklanders and the pets that are a huge part of their families. That needs to change.”

Under a Palino-led Council, several major changes are likely:

1. Existing animal control contracts will be reviewed, with a view to replacing the focus on profit with an approach that encourages responsible pet ownership and supports Aucklanders’ right to enjoy the company of their four-legged friends.

2. The current euthanasia rates will be addressed. A focus on rehoming unwanted animals rather than euthanising will be introduced.

3. Escalating registration and non-compliance fees will be reviewed. Palino says “The current fee structure does little to encourage responsible pet ownership. We see a surge in abandonment at dog registration time and a shocking rate of euthanasia when pet owners are unable to pay council-imposed fees. Clearly the penalty-led system is not working.”

4. The potential for free microchipping will be reviewed. “Christchurch introduced a council-funded microchipping programme some time ago” says Palino. “While it initially looks like an unnecessary cost, when you consider the fact that a microchip costs $6 and following up on a non-microchipped, non-registered dog costs around $150, free microchipping starts to make sense.”

5. Auckland-wide dog restrictions will also be up for review. “There are certain times of the year when council resources are simply not being used. For example, on a weekday in the middle of winter, few Aucklanders visit our beaches. The majority who do visit are dog owners braving the elements with their furry friends. Pet owners can easily be given better access to beaches and parks with zero impact on Aucklanders who are less keen on dogs” says Palino.

It is an unusual consideration for a centre-right candidate, but the welfare of four-legged Aucklanders is one that is close to Palino’s heart. Palino was raised with pets and looks set to introduce a canine friend to the mayoral office if elected. “My partner Rose and I are currently debating the particular kind of dog we’ll be adopting in the next few months. We’ve met a lot of Auckland dogs during the mayoral campaign which is making the decision incredibly difficult.” The couple are erring towards adopting a rescued poodle – in part a tribute to the rescued poodle the Palino family adopted shortly after his father passed away.

“Pierre was an eight year old poodle that we rescued from the local pound. He had been treated poorly by his former owner, and he became a saviour for my mother after my father passed away. He refused to leave her side no matter what. It is just amazing how this dog made the quality of my mother’s life so much better just by keeping her company and giving her someone to take care of. In Auckland, a dog like Pierre would very likely have become a statistic – just another dog whose life was cut short because our approach to animal welfare favours euthanasia over rehoming.”

ENDS

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