Free Dog Microchipping

“Microchipping is the best tool we have for reuniting lost, stolen or stray dogs, with their owners. We encourage all dog owners to microchip their dogs as early as possible” said John Bergman Tasman District Council Animal Control Officer.

Tasman District Council is reminding dog owners to microchip their dogs. From October Council will be taking a more proactive approach to ensuring that the requirements for microchipping, under Section 36A of the Dog Control Act 1996, are met.

Microchips:

• are the size of a grain of rice and implanted under the skin just forward of the shoulder blades going up the neckline
• carry a number unique to your dog
• are a transponder which responds to a scanner
• are not a transmitter, there is no power source
• details are kept on the National Dog Database, managed by the Department of Internal Affairs.

 

Those dogs required by Law to be microchipped are:

• Dogs classified as dangerous or menacing
• Dogs impounded as unregistered or dogs impounded more than once.
• Dogs registered for the first time after July 1, 2006.

 

Farm working dogs (defined as those that are kept solely or principally for herding or droving stock) are exempt. No other working dogs are exempt.

Microchips can be implanted by a veterinarian, the SPCA or in some instances by Council Animal Control Staff. Charges for the implanting process vary, however there is no charge for adding your dogs microchip details to the National Dog Database.

Failing to have a microchip implanted in a dog is an offence the penalty for which ranges from an Infringement Notice and associated fine of $300.00 to prosecution and fine not exceeding $3000.00. Dog owners are given a warning and opportunity to microchip their dogs prior to the issuing of any infringement Notices.

Council has sourced 500 microchips which it will implant free of charge over the month of October.  This offer will only be available to dogs currently registered in the Tasman area. See the table below for times and places where the Tasman District Council will be offering free microchipping.

Free Dog Microchipping Dates:

Richmond: Dog Pound 121 Beach Road (175 chips)

09 October 11.00 am – 1.00 pm
23 October 11.00 am – 1.00 pm
Motueka: Council Service Centre (150 chips)

09 October 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
23 October 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Takaka: Golden Bay Recreation Park (100 chips)

11 October 11.00 am – 1.00 pm
18 October 11.00 am – 1.00 pm
Murchison: Council Service Centre (75 chips)

16 October 11.00 am – 1.00 pm
25 October 11.00 am – 1.00 pm