Dog registration fees in Whakatāne District start on 1 July for the 2021/22 year, with discounts for those who pay their fees by 31 July.
Registration fees are unchanged from last year.
The 2021/22 registration fee for a de-sexed (neutered) dog or a working dog is $58, provided payment is made on or before Saturday, 31 July 2021, or $83 if paid after this date.
The fee for registering an entire (unneutered) dog is $83, increasing to $124.00 if paid after 31 July.
Certified disability assist dogs and dogs used by Government agencies for specific purposes (such as law enforcement or biosecurity) are free of charge.
All dogs more than three months old must be registered, but for dogs under 12 months old, a proportion of the applicable fee will be charged.
Impounding fees remain unchanged at $60 for a first impounding; $90 for a second impounding; and $120 for a third and subsequent impounding. Additional charges apply for dog food and after-hours impoundment between 5pm-8am daily.
Registration fee invoices have been posted to known dog owners. All dogs are legally required to be registered and failure to do so is an offence under the Dog Control Act.
Graeme Lewer, Manager Community Regulation, says registering your dog makes it much easier for councils to find and identify dogs. Under Section 36 of the Dog Control Act 1996, all dogs must be registered with the council in the district where they are kept by 1 July each year, or before the dog is three months old.
"Dogs can also be microchipped for easy identification - this helps animal control staff return dogs to their rightful owners if their registration tags be lost," he says.
The Council’s Animal Control Unit operates a 24 hour, seven-days-a-week service.