An environmentally friendly pound, located on North Soldiers Settlement Road, has a goal to create a carbon footprint as low as possible.
The new pound has replaced a facility in Johnston St, Featherston, which had been running for over 20 years and didn’t come up to scratch with the government’s current animal welfare code.
SWDC said there had been a dire need for a new pound, as the Johnston St facility could no longer stay at its location and there was no other pound in the area.
The new pound was officially opened by Deputy Mayor Melissa Sadler-Futter, who noted the council has a legal responsibility to operate a satisfactory facility for the care and exercise of dogs.
“The old pound had more than had its day and officers are to be congratulated for the innovative design they have come up with, which keeps animal welfare front and centre,” said Sadler-Futter.
The new pound not only exceeds animal welfare standards, but it is off-grid, using solar as its main power source, accompanied by a water storage tank and a septic tank.
The facility has room for up to four dogs to stretch their legs, with individual external exercise runs and two large yards with fully fenced high security features.
SWDC environmental service manager Rick Mead said despite the pound being built within a tight budget of $450,000, it’s set a high standard for others to follow.
“We do what we can to get a dog back to their owner, but if we pick up a dog after hours, the council must provide a reasonable standard of care for the animal,” said Mead, who was delighted with the generosity of suppliers who had worked to find a financially realistic solution to the dog pound problem.
Most people care greatly for their four-legged friends, Mead noted, and the new facility means SWDC can fulfil its responsibility to meet the standards for animal welfare.
