Dogs

Dog owners must register their dog before 1 August each year and make sure it wears the registration tag.
All dogs 3 months and older must be registered.
For more information about dog registration

Change of ownership of a dog

You must tell us as soon as possible, of any change in dog ownership or address.
Contact customer services

If you have lost your dog

• phone customer services
• then the SPCA or veterinarian (in case your dog is injured) every 2 to 3 days
• put a circular in letter boxes with the dog's description and your contact phone number
• visit council's animal shelter in case your dog's description differs from that in the impounding book. Dogs are only held in the animal shelter for 7 days before adoption or euthanasia.
• advertise in the newspaper and on the radio.

If you find a dog

• phone customer services
• tell us if you would like the dog collected, or if you're happy to hold it until the owner can pick the dog up.

What to do if your dog has been impounded

Contact us to check the pound register.

If your dog is impounded and is currently registered, it may be returned to you, provided it has not been seized because it has attacked any person or other animal. Release will be conditional upon you first paying all impounding, kennel and veterinary fees where applicable.

Dog impounding fees

Animal shelter hours

The animal shelter is open daily between 8am - 8.30am and is located at the end of Dunstan Road, Matawhero.

What to do if your dog has died or has been put down

If your dog has died, you must tell us. Bring your current dog registration tag and some formal proof of death (veterinarian euthanasia certificate etc) with you to help with the process.

You may be eligible for some registration fee refund assessed on the current year's registration only. This will be calculated at the time you tell us.

Some frequently asked questions

Q: Can I have more than one dog on my property?

A: Yes, but if you live within the city boundary you must fill in an "Application to Keep More Than One Dog". There is no fee involved. Contact customer services for a form.  Read the Dog Control Bylaw  

Q: Can I transfer from one district to another?

A: Yes, just bring your tag and receipt from the district the dog was registered in, fill in a registration form and the tag will be exchanged at no additional cost.

Q: What can I do to lessen the registration fee I pay?

A: You can apply to become a "Special Owner", but there is a strict criteria to be met. Contact customer service for more information.

Q: How do I become a "Licensed Owner"?

A: You must first be a "Special Owner" at which stage you can then purchase a "Dog Owner's Manual" at a cost of $15.00. When you have done this, your name will be put on a list to sit a short test of 20 multiple choice questions.

Q: When my dog dies can I use the same tag for my new dog?

A: No. If your dog dies, return that dog's tag and the balance of registration money can be used towards registering your new dog and a new tag will be issued.

How to stop your dog barking

Reasons for barking include, attention seeking, cold, hungry or lonely.  The main cure is time and patience. If you can correct the reason for the barking, the dog will settle down. 

Cold or hungry -  change the environment to make it content. Feed the dog; give it a warm dry place to sleep, keep it close to you and, if it is a puppy, put a loud clock in its bed. This will sound like company.

Attention seeking - if you growl the dog each time it barks it gets the attention it wants and will continue to bark. Unpleasant results increase the dog's anxiety and result in the dog seeking more attention. Observe its behaviour, say 'no', or 'bad dog' as it is about to bark. This will break its attention. Call the dog, say 'sit' and 'stay', then reward it for its good behaviour.

Denning Principle - if the dog barks when you are out - give it a small den such as a bathroom or laundry. Feed the dog in there so it always feels positive about the room.

Train it by locking it in for 15 minutes or so at feeding time. Give the dog a bone or biscuit when you shut it away when leaving the house. This method works well for training pups and when you are away routinely.

What do dogs need?

Shelter - a kennel that is warm, dry and the right size if the dog is kept outside.

Exercise - dogs need regular exercise. A dog should be on a leash in public areas. Be prepared to clean up after your dog.

Food- a dog needs to be fed every day with good food. Check that your supply of food is hydatids free.

Attention - a dog needs to feel that he is part of the family.

Safe feeding

There are a few simple rules to keep a dog free from hydatids. Changes in the legislation means that the Animal Control Officer is no longer to dose the dog. These few guidelines will ensure that your dog cannot become infected.

Never feed raw offal from any animal to your dog

It's offal from domestic animals that carry the cysts of true hydatids. People can carry the cysts as well. The dog has to eat a cyst to become infected as the cyst holds all the new tapeworm heads.

Always cook any offal fed to dogs

Boil the offal until it is cooked right through. The gravy is good for dogs as well.

Always freeze or cook sheep or goat meat

Sheep or goat meat may contain sheep measles cysts. These do not infect people but can hurt the export trade. Freezing the meat or bones for at least 7 days at a minimum of -10ºc will kill these small cysts.

Don't let your dog scavenge

If your dog wanders and scavenges from other people and rubbish bags, you will not know what he has eaten. He could pick up an infestation of hydatids worms, poison or even a disease.

Dog owners have responsibilities under the legislation

Under the Dog Control Act 1996, dog owners are responsible for:

(a) Ensuring their dog is:

• Currently registered.
• Properly fed, watered, exercised, housed and cared for.
• Kept under the direct control of a person, or confined in such a manner that it cannot freely leave any property on which it is being kept.
• Kept leashed whenever it is taken out in public.
• Kept muzzled and leashed at all times in public where it is classified as a dangerous or menacing dog.
• Kept confined in an enclosed yard and is adequately exercised where it is a bitch in season or is infected with mange, distemper or other infectious disease.
• Microchipped as required by the Dog Control Act 1996 (as amended 2004). 

(b) Taking all reasonable steps to ensure their dog does not:

• Injure, endanger, intimidate, or cause distress to any person, stock, poultry, domestic animal or protected wildlife.
• Create a nuisance by persistent barking, wandering or roaming.
• Damage or endanger any property belonging to any other person.

(c) Ensuring they:

• Notify council promptly of any dog address or ownership change.
• Comply with the requirements of the Dog Control Act 1996 and all regulations and bylaws made under that Act.

When you take your dog out in any public place, land or premises, you must remove and properly dispose of all faecal matter or other fouling deposited by your dog.

Links to more information  

Dog Control Bylaw 2010

Dog Control Policy

Dog control policy and practices

Legislation

Dog Control Act 1996