8 June, 2016

Auckland Council targets bottom ten percent of dog owners

More than 99,000 or 90 percent of all Auckland dogs will be sporting shiny new blue tags over the next two months as their owners re-register them. But this year council officers will be targeting the bottom ten percent who “take a free ride at the expense of other dog owners”, says Auckland Council’s Bylaws and Regulatory Committee Chair, Councillor Calum Penrose.

He says most Auckland dog owners are very responsible and register their dogs during the earlybird period that has just begun and runs to 31 July.

“Dog registration is a user-pays service and fees cover the entire cost of keeping Aucklanders safe from dog-related nuisance and harm. None of that comes out of rates. Every dog owner who doesn’t pay their share is leaving it to others to pay for their dogs,” he says.

Councillor Penrose says dog registration fees contribute to vital areas of animal management, including a 24-hour a day response to dog incidents such as attacks on children; beach and park patrols; animal shelters and adoptions; educating children about dog safety; reuniting lost dogs with owners; and dog safety initiatives such as the Menacing Dogs Amnesty, which has seen more than 450 menacing dogs register for de-sexing, microchipping and muzzles.

The Menacing Dogs Amnesty expires on 30 June 2016, and qualifying dog owners are urged to take advantage of the offer of a year’s free registration, no fines, de-sexing, microchipping and muzzle for just $25. From 1 July, animal management officers will be actively searching for and seizing unregistered dogs that pose a risk to public safety.

Dog registration fees will increase by just one dollar for most classes of registration; by two dollars for the mid-range of fees, and by up to three dollars for the highest range of services.

“We reward responsible dog owners, people who de-sex their dogs and special service dogs, who are much less likely to be the cause of nuisance or dog attack callouts,” he says.

Holders of Responsible Dog Owner licences who pay before 1 August 2016 receive a discount of around 55 percent. Dog owners have until 31 August to register their dogs, after which an infringement fee of $300 applies.

More information about 2016 dog registration fees and discounts is available at the Auckland Council websitewww.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or at any Auckland council service centre.

ENDS

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