Animal Control team keeps people and animals safe around NZ

From Northland to Invercargill – and many places in between – Armourguard’s animal control team is doing a great job keeping people and animals safe.

Animal control officers need to be good at engaging with people and animals alike and the skills needed for dealing with each are surprisingly similar.

Tess Sykes, who supervises our Hawkes Bay animal control team, says many skills are transferrable between people and animals: “Animal control officers need to like animals and not to be afraid of dogs or livestock. They also need to be good at wrangling animals and humans, and good at customer service.

“Regardless of the situation the animal control officer always needs to remain cool, calm, collected and polite. That not only helps prevent potentially tricky situations from getting worse, but it ensures professional representation of both Armourguard and the local body we are doing the animal control work for.”

Tess says the most difficult situations are when an animal control officer needs to seize a dog alleged to have injured an animal or person. Some dog owners don’t take well to that, so sometimes it is necessary to involve the police.

Chris Gray, who manages Armourguard’s Greater Wellington animal control team adds: “Mention ‘animal control’ and most people think of the pound, but animal control work goes far beyond simply impounding dogs and livestock. “The aim is to minimise stress on animals and people alike by providing a friendly and welcoming service that prioritises responsible animal ownership and reuniting animal owners with lost pets and wandering stock.”

Armourguard’s animal control services

Our animal control services vary across the country, depending upon what the local or regional council wants and what their bylaws permit.  Typical duties include the following:

Patrols and Incident Response

Regular street and nature reserve patrols to keep communities and wildlife safe from roaming or aggressive animals. This can include seizing aggressive roaming dogs, stock control on roads, photographing dog attack human / animal victims for use in council investigations.  

Pound Duties

Operating secure pound facilities where lost or wandering animals are cared for until they can be reunited with their owners. Seized dogs are also looked after at the pound. Pound duties include feeding, watering and providing daily care, as well as administering medication where needed and socialising puppies to humans.

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership

Educating the public about responsible pet ownership, and providing information and resources. From microchipping and registration to providing information on proper care and training, our animal control team works to ensure that all pets are well cared for and that their owners understand their responsibilities.

Meet Greater Wellington Animal Control Officer, Manua

Want to know more? Contact us.