Opportunity for dog owners to win registration fee refund

Horowhenua dog owners can win a full refund of their dog registration fees for the coming year, but they will need to register and make payment by Sunday 17 July.

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

To help dog owners pay their registration fees after normal business hours, on Saturdays July 9 and July 17 Council's Levin office at 126 Oxford Street will open from 9.00am to 12 noon, and the customer service centre at the Foxton Library in Clyde Street will open from 10am to 12 noon, to accept registration payments..

Dog owners will receive their registration renewal notices within the next fortnight. These will be posted to the last recorded address held on Council's records. Anyone who has moved in the past year should ensure Council has their updated address and contact details.

Customer Experience Lead Vai Miller says Horowhenua’s registration fees remain the same as the past year, and are still lower than those charged by most other councils in New Zealand.

Registration fees are 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 range from $44 for a puppy to $265 for a dangerous-classified dog, with most fees between $55 and $112.

Registration payments are due by Sunday 31 July 2016. A late penalty of the registration fee plus 50 percent will apply for registrations paid after 31 July.

Mrs Miller 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,” she said.

Payments can be made at Council's office in Levin or at its service centres at the Foxton and Shannon community libraries. Payments can also be made by direct credit, with details on how to do so can be found on the dog registration renewal notices.

Detailed information on dog registrations, as well as the schedule of fees and charges for animal control, is available online at www.horowhenua.govt.nz/AnimalControl

ENDS

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