🐶 National Hug Your Dog Day - But Not in Tauranga’s Pound

🥵 April 10 is National Hug Your Dog Day - a celebration of the bond between people and their pups. But for some Tauranga dog owners, that hug is heartbreakingly out of reach

🐕‍🦺 Tauranga City Council is currently denying owners the ability to visit their impounded dogs, citing “security and privacy issues.” While the Council gives assurances that the dogs are being fed and are “not at risk of euthanasia,” it refuses to allow even supervised visits

🐕 Let’s be clear: this isn’t just inconvenient - it’s damaging

🐩 Dogs are social animals. When they’re impounded, they’re not just physically confined - they’re emotionally distressed. The sudden separation from their owners can lead to depression, anxiety, appetite loss, and behavioural changes. A familiar voice, scent, or presence can make a world of difference during this traumatic time

😭 For owners, the inability to check on or comfort their pets adds another layer of suffering. These aren’t “assets” or “cases” - they’re family members. Not knowing if your dog is okay, not being able to bring a blanket or toy, not even being allowed a five-minute check-in? That’s devastating

😰 The Council says this is about security and privacy. But many other councils across the country have managed to balance safety with compassion- through supervised visits, regular welfare updates, or controlled check-ins. Why not Tauranga?

😕 Denying all access removes transparency and fuels distrust. It also sends a chilling message: that once your dog is behind pound walls, your role in their welfare no longer matters

🐺 This National Hug Your Dog Day, let’s remember that some people can’t - and not because they don’t want to. Because a policy, not a principle, stands in their way

I call on Tauranga City Council to:

💥 Reconsider its blanket ban on dog visits

💥 Implement safe, supervised visitation or updates

💥 Prioritise the emotional welfare of both animals and owners

💥 Food and shelter are just the basics. Real animal welfare includes compassion, connection- and yes, the ability to hug your dog when they need it most