Be a Responsible Dog Owner - Make Sure Your Dog Is Registered Now!

July was the month throughout the country to re-register dogs; it is now over. There are still a number of dogs not registered within Kaipara District.

All dogs over the age of 12 weeks must be registered.  Kaipara’s Dog Control Officers will start visiting all dog owners who have unregistered dogs soon, Council’s Contractor, ENL, is warning that if you are found to have an unregistered dog you will be issued with a $300.00 fine and will need to pay $60.00 to register each dog. That’s $360.00 instead of $60.00, so it really is worth making sure your dog’s registration is up to date.

ENL Manager, Keith Thompson, advises “if your dog is not currently registered with a red tag, you need to be a responsible owner and get onto it now”. Dog registrations fall due on the 1 July each year, advertisements reminding people to register their dogs were placed in our local papers beforehand, and dog registration forms were sent out to dog owners.  Contract supervisor Rachel Sheppard also reminds all owners that it is their responsibility register their dog; “perhaps you could just mark it in your calendar or year planner as a reminder not to forget”.

Ms Sheppard also advises that if your dog passes away you are entitled to a part refund of the current registration fee based on the complete months remaining in the registration year after the date of the request for the refund, to do this you will need to fill out a form and return your dog’s tag to either the Dargaville office or to the Kaiwaka Service Centre.

She asks that owners remember that while dogs have plenty of lovely places to exercise and enjoy themselves in the Kaipara they must be kept under control at all times, and any mess they make must be cleaned up.  Failing to do so can also result in a $300.00 fine. Dog owners will want to avoid that!

The Council invites people to check out Kaipara’s revamped Dog Policy and Dog Management Bylaws, if you should want more information on what is required of dog owners in our area, copies are available at Council Service Centres, Libraries, and on the Kaipara District Council website www.kaipara.govt.nz.

For more information you can also call the Kaipara’s Dog Control Officer on 0800 105 890, or the Kaipara District Council Service Centre team in Dargaville on 0800 72 70 59, or the Kaiwaka Service Centre on 0800 100 388.