Annual dog registration period began on the first day of July

If you have a dog, you will need to register it again from this week. Dog registration is an annual requirement under the Dog Control Act 1996 and the registration period began on Wednesday for any peninsula-based dog over three months old.

If you are registering your dog for the first time, you will also need to get your dog micro-chipped. The only exception is a working farm dog. If you have four or more working farm dogs, rebates are available for your fourth and subsequent dogs.

What if you've already paid in another area and you've just moved into the peninsula? Simply bring in your current dog tag and swap it for a Thames-Coromandel District Council tag. It's as easy as that!

The fees for the next year are $60 per dog, $90 for dogs classed as dangerous dogs and there are no fees for registering guide or hearing-ear dogs.

If you pay after the last day of August, a minimum penalty of $30 will be added and any person that has not registered their dog within the required time is liable for a $300 instant fine. If you want to know more about working dog rebates, registration, exercise areas and micro-chipping, just head to the Council's on-line dog registration page. www.tcdc.govt.nz/services/dogs