10 April 2006

Dog registration fees to remain at same levels

Registration fees for dogs in Auckland city will remain at their current levels for the 2006/2007 financial year.

Auckland City's service requests manager, Jackie Wilkinson, says that it is vital that all dogs in the city are registered - both for council records and animal control purposes, as well as to enable lost dogs to be reunited with their owners.

"Registering dogs is important and by keeping registration fees at the same level we are aiming to ensure they are affordable to all dog owners."

There are two ways to reduce the costs of registration, either through neutering your dog or, as an owner, completing a good dog owner course. For more information on these courses, call Animal Control Services on (09) 360 0750.

The current fees for registering dogs in Auckland city are as follows: Standard fee Late fee (applies after 31 July 2006) A Neutered dog, with an owner who holds a dog owner licence $38.00 $57.00 B Neutered dog, with an owner who does not hold a dog owner licence $62.00 $93.00 C Un-neutered dog, with an owner who holds a dog owner licence $81.00 $121.50 D Un-neutered dog, with an owner who does not who hold a dog owner licence $106.00 $159.00 E Special purpose dogs (e.g. guide dogs, police dogs) NIL NIL F Working dogs (e.g. farm dogs kept for herding or driving livestock) $38.00 $57.00 Dogs adopted from the Redvale Shelter, SPCA, or Humane Society - for the first year of registration only $20.00 $20.00 Owners of dogs classed as dangerous must pay 150 per cent of the registration fee.

Dog registration letters will be sent to all dog owners on Auckland City's records in late May and must be completed and returned to Auckland City by 31 July. Dog owners who do not receive a letter during May should contact Auckland City on (09) 379 2020 as it is still their responsibility to ensure their dog is registered. Dog registration forms can be downloaded from www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dogs.

Under the Dog Control Amendment Act 2003, new regulations have been introduced by the government which will require some dogs to be microchipped from 1 July 2006. This applies to:

* all dogs registered in New Zealand for the first time, eg. new puppies or imported dogs

* any dogs classified as menacing or dangerous

* any dogs which are impounded more than once after 1 July 2006

* unregistered dogs which are impounded.

Auckland City is home to approximately 18,000 dogs.

ENDS

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