Council warns against third party dog registrations

Auckland Council is reminding dog owners around the region that it only accepts payment for dog registrations directly, not through third parties.

The council has become aware that the website regthedog.co.nz, which appears to have a formal relationship with other councils in New Zealand, has accepted payments for dog registration for Auckland dog owners.

The council’s Manager Animal Management, Tracey Moore, says that the council is not affiliated with any business offering this service on its behalf, includingregthedog.co.nz.

“We have never outsourced dog registration, or given regthedog.co.nzauthorisation to take payment on behalf of Auckland Council,” says Ms Moore.

“If anyone has made a payment through this website, or any other third party, please phone us on 09 301 0101.

“We’d like to remind Auckland dog owners that they can only register their dogs by coming to the council directly. They can do this easily online, through our website.”

Auckland Council offers several options for payment of dog registration including:

- Secure online Account–to-Account or credit card payment

- Cheque

- Over the counter at Auckland Council service centres

- Renewals can be done over the counter at Kiwibank

Dog owners are legally required to register their dogs and renew registrations each year and those who don’t risk a $300 fine.

All dogs should have been registered or re-registered by August 1, however the council believes around 20,000 dogs in Auckland have still not been registered.

More information on dog registration can be found on Auckland Council’swebsite.

ENDS

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