13 July 2006

Dog registration deadline approaching

A record 99.9 per cent of Auckland city's 16,809 known dogs were registered during the year to 30 June 2006 and so far, nearly 60 per cent of dogs have been registered for the current registration year.

Auckland City believes the high registration rates are largely due to the level of media coverage and public concern about dog control issues.

Owners who register their dogs before 31 July go into a draw for five prizes of $200 Westfield vouchers. A higher fee will be charged for dogs registered after 31 July and failure to register will incur a $300 fine.

Dog registration is a key part of Auckland City's animal management strategy, today's meeting of the council's Planning and Regulatory Committee was told.

With accurate records the council can be more efficient with monitoring safety in the community and officers can spend more time on preventative work such as educating dog owners and teaching children about interaction with dogs.

Dog registration helps in returning lost dogs to their owners and all dog owners are required by law to register puppies when they reach three months of age.

The committee heard that high registration levels had a positive effect on lowering incidents of dog aggression. In the 2005/2006 year there were 542 incidents reported, a 55 per cent decrease from the 2001/2002 year.

This year, micro-chipping requirements have come into effect for all dogs registered for the first time.

The committee approved a notice of motion to advise the government that the microchipping law will be costly and difficult to administer, and the council will assign its implementation a low priority.

Committee chairperson Councillor Glenda Fryer said members were of the view that microchipping would not necessarily reduce dog attacks. Newly registered dogs have two months to be microchipped and, to save money, dog owners can ask their vet to perform the procedure at the same time the dog receives its vaccinations.

Dogs which must be micro-chipped from 1 July 2006 include: * Dogs registered in New Zealand for the first time on or after 1 July 2006 * Dogs classified as menacing or dangerous since 1 December 2003 * Dogs which are impounded more than once on or after 12 July 2006 * Unregistered dogs which are impounded on or after 1 July 2006

The dog registration fees, unchanged from last year, are as follows:

Class Type Standard fee Late fee (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.

The costs of dog registration can also be found using the registration calculator on the website.

To pay online visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz and click on "pay this year's dog registration online" under Online services.

A reduced fee for registration is offered for owners who neuter their dog or complete a Good Dog Owner course to receive a Dog Owner Licence. For more information about de-sexing your dog and the Good Dog Owner courses visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dogs

Registration fees supply 60 per cent of the cost of services Auckland City provides such as 24-hour dog control, educating and advising owners, resolving complaints, taking enforcement action and emergency assistance.

Ends For further information, please contact:

Councillor Glenda Fryer, chairperson, Planning and Regulatory Committee ph 027 272 0816

Jackie Wilkinson, service requests manager ph (09)353 9034 or 027 454 2860

For media assistance, please contact: Ashleigh Peek, Communications and Marketing ph (09) 373 6255 or 027 285 4484

Notes for editor Key statistics In the 2005/2006 year Auckland City initiated 12 prosecutions, issued 3,767 infringement notices including 1,466 infringement notices for failing to register a dog, and 1,742 for failing to keep a dog confined to a property. Auckland City classified 238 dogs as "menacing" (including 67 dogs because they were American Pit Bull terriers or crosses). Auckland City issued 190 notices for failing to comply with the classification of a menacing dog, where the owner had not neutered their dog or had not muzzled the dog in public.

Aggression statistics

2005/6 2004/5 2003/4 2002/03 2001/02 2000/01 Total Dog attacking dog 136 108 148 225 269 260 1146 Dog biting person 163 168 139 268 252 231 1221 Attacking animal 104 73 55 63 120 92 507 Challenge 129 205 275 460 470 531 2070 Dog worrying stock 10 13 12 16 21 9 81 TOTAL 542 567 629 1032 1132 1123 5025

ENDS

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