12 September 2020
Mary Phillips
[FYI request #13628 email]
Dear Ms Phillips
Request for information
Thank you for your enquiry dated 31 August 2020 requesting information on
police dogs as detailed in the bullet points below.
1. What is the reason the NZ Police register dogs with the New Zealand
Kennel Club Inc.
2. What happens to the dogs that do not meet the requirements to be a
Police Dog.
3. Do the NZ Police export dogs to other countries, and
4. Do the NZ Police import dogs from overseas.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the Official Information
Act 1982 and I enclose the following information:
1. NZ Police are required to maintain a large dog breeding population to
meet ongoing demands for replacement Police dogs. Tracking the
lineage of dogs within the population is an important part of making
relevant breeding decisions. By registering with the NZKC we are able
to maintain an official and internationally recognised method of multi
generation pedigree registration and listing. This is vital to maintaining
cooperative dog exchange programmes with local breeders and
international partners, including other Police Agencies and dog
breeders.
2. When a dog is deemed unsuitable to be a Police dog the NZ Police will
offer it to other Government working dog agencies, assistance dog
organisations or rehome it with police staff or members of the public who
have previously contacted police looking for dogs. Background checks
are completed before dogs are rehomed.
3. NZ Police work with a number of international working dog agencies from
around the world, importing and exporting dogs and frozen semen.
Police National Headquarters
180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Telephone: 04 474 9499. 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz
This is to ensure diversity in our breeding stock. NZ Police also send
working dogs to a number of the Pacific Island countries under the Pacific
Detector Dog Programme. Due to strong relationships with Australia we
have also send / exchange dogs with a number of working dog agencies
in Australia.
4. As per question 3.
If you have any questions, you may contact Inspector Todd Southall on
[email address].
Yours sincerely
Inspector Todd Southall
National Coordinator: Police Dogs
