Dog registration fees refunds on offer

Horowhenua dog owners can win a full refund of their dog registration fees but they will need to register and make payment by Friday 11 July.

Horowhenua District Council is offering 10 refunds that will be drawn in the promotion to encourage owners to register their dogs early.

Registration renewal notices will be posted at the end of June and to the last recorded address held on dog owners records.

Owners will see that fees have increased by $10 per dog.

Council's Regulatory Services Manager Mike Lepper says this is the first increase for three years and that Horowhenua's animal control fees and charges will still be less than those charged by most other councils in New Zealand.

Mr Lepper says the increase is necessary to cover the costs faced by the Council and so it can meet its obligations under the Dog Control Act.

The fees cover about three-quarters of the cost to run Council's Animal Services department, as well as action complaints, pay for education programmes and material, pound facilities, and legal costs. The balance is covered by Council.

Dog registration fees will range from $34 for a puppy to $255 for a dangerous-classified dog, with most fees between $45 and $102.

Registration payments are due by Thursday 31 July 2014. A late penalty of the registration fee plus 50 percent will apply for registrations paid after 31 July.

Mr Lepper says any dog owners who believe they may have difficulty in paying their dog registration fees are encouraged to contact Council now on 06 366 0999 and discuss possible options.

"We'd rather talk with people now and perhaps arrange a payment plan to avoid the risk of them receiving a $300 infringement fee."

A complete list of the animal control fees and charges is available on Council's website www.horowhenua.govt.nz

Payments can be made at Council service centres in Levin, Foxton or Shannon. Council's Levin office at 126 Oxford Street will also open from 9.00am to 12 noon on Saturday 5 July and Saturday 12 July to accept registration payments.

Also, anyone who takes their dog and registers them on either of these Saturdays can also have their dog microchipped at the reduced rate of $15.00.

There are approximately 6100 dogs in the Horowhenua District.

Mr Lepper says that each year the Council receives around 1500 dog-related complaints and approximately 600 dogs are impounded, of which one-third are euthanized unfortunately.

He says that all impounded dogs that are not claimed and are suitable for re-homing are re-housed.

ENDS

© Scoop Media