Dear Ms Nicoll

 

Thank you for your official information request of 23 November 2020. 
Having reviewed your request we estimate that it will take approximately 3
hours to collate and research the information requested.  Pursuant to
section 13 (1A) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 the Council is entitled to impose a charge for requests that
require substantial collation.  The Council’s charging policy detailed in
the link below.

 

[1]https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/asset...

 

As your request exceeds the one hour free we intend to impose a charge. 
The work is estimated to take 3 hours to research and collate, which
equates to a charge of $152.00, which would need to be paid in advance. 
If the time taken were to exceed this, we would let you know, and if less
time was taken, a refund would be payable to you.  Alternatively you may
wish to refine your request.

 

As we will impose a charge on this request,  you are advised you have the
right to seek a review by the Office of the Ombudsman
([2][email address]) or 0880 802 602.

 

I await your instruction in regard to the processing or refinement of this
request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Lauren McDonald

Governance Support Officer
CORPORATE SERVICES GROUP              

P  03 477 4000  |  DD  03 474 3428  |  E [3][email address] 

Dunedin City Council, 50 The Octagon, Dunedin

PO Box 5045, Dunedin 9054

New Zealand

[4]www.dunedin.govt.nz

 

 

[5]DCC Main Page

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From: Rachael Nicoll <[FOI #14186 email]>
Sent: Monday, 23 November 2020 12:56 p.m.
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Annual Report on Dog Control
Policy and Practises

 

Dear Dunedin City Council,
My preference is to receive the requested information through the
fyi.org.nz platform.

On 22 September 2020 Customer and Regulatory Services made the report
“ANIMAL SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS” to
the Planning and Environment Committee.

1. At paragraph 10 the Report states:
“Each of the dog exercise parks has a unique design and has been built to
maximise the use of the topography of the area. The surrounding areas are
regularly maintained and upgraded. The ratio of dog exercise parks to
known dogs (registered and unregistered) is 1:2,071.”

Please provide evidence to substantiate the following:
(a) The parks have been designed to “maximise the use of the topography”.
For example, the reports from the experts involved such as the
topographer, animal behaviourist, expert in the design of public spaces,
design options that were considered, etc.
(b) The statutory authority that makes the dog control activity
responsible for maintaining the surrounds of dog parks but not the dog
parks, especially as all surrounds have access restrictions that mean they
cannot be used by dog owners and their dogs.
(c) The reason maintaining surrounds takes priority over maintaining dog
parks when the parks have been shown to fall below minimum legal levels
for accessibility, usability and safe use for many years.
(d) The mathematical formula used to produce the 1:2071 park/dogs ratio
given the majority of the dog population is prohibited from using the
three “small dog/breed” parks which produces a different ratio when
ordinary mathematics is applied to the disclosed numbers.
(e) The mathematical formula used to deduce the total number of dogs given
analysing the stated dog/park ratio produces the precise number of 450
unregistered dogs, but applying reverse percentages to the figure of
asserted known dogs produces only 371.

2. Paragraph 26 states a total of 11,012 dogs have been neutered under the
neutering programme. Analysis of past reports produces an average of
227/annum which means it has taken approximately 49 years to neuter that
number of dogs.
(a) Please explain why the Council is reporting a running total without
identifying it is the result of accumulated numbers spanning almost five
decades and what meaningful information that provides given the current
Act has been in force for ½ that period and there was no equivalent focus
on neutering in the previous legislation.
(b) Please confirm the numbers relating to neutered dogs are correct
given:
- The total number of dogs neutered under the programme is the same as the
total number of neutered dogs in Dunedin, yet it can be proven many owners
neuter their dogs outside of the Dunedin City Council neutering programme
- The percentage of neutered dogs given 11012 of 18190 dogs is 61%, not
64% as stated.
- The change in percentage given the figures provided to the DIA show a
percentage of 60% for the previous reporting year which means the number
increased rather than remaining the same as stated.

3. Paragraph 27 states 92% of registered dogs are microchipped and that is
the same as last year. However paragraph 27 of the 2019 Report states 91%
of registered dogs are micro-chipped while the numbers provided to the DIA
for 2019 produce a total of only 90%. Please identify which number is
correct.

4. The Dog Control statistics record that 5 dogs were designated dangerous
due to owner conviction, but only three prosecutions were taken during the
reporting period. Please confirm the number of dogs designated dangerous,
and the number of prosecutions. Please also provide copies of the relevant
judgements.

5. Paragraph 22 states 29 dogs were classified as menacing in the last 12
months, and 19 were due to behaviour. Please identify how many were
classified due to displaying aggressive behaviours, and how many received
that classification due to being considered a threat because of reported
or observed behaviours such as roaming.

Note I expect this information will be easily to hand given the Report has
has only just been complied and presented.

Yours faithfully,

Rachael Nicoll

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Dear Rachael

 

Please find attached our response to your official information request of
23 November 2020.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Lauren McDonald

Governance Support Officer
CORPORATE SERVICES GROUP              

P  03 477 4000  |  DD  03 474 3428  |  E [1][email address] 

Dunedin City Council, 50 The Octagon, Dunedin

PO Box 5045, Dunedin 9054

New Zealand

[2]www.dunedin.govt.nz

 

 

 

[3]DCC Main Page

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