What Does My Dog Registration Pay For?

Your dog registration fees help to fund a range of services that are designed to help dogs, their owners and the wider community such as:

• Monitoring and enforcing the Dog Control Act 1996 and ensuring compliance with the Marlborough District Council Dog Control Policy and Bylaw
• Responding to and investigating complaints (including dog rushes and attacks on people, domestic pets, stock and wildlife, barking nuisance, roaming, lost and found dogs)
• Providing and maintaining the pound facilities and the Renwick Dog Park
• Patrolling public areas, reserves, parks, beaches, sports fields throughout Marlborough
• Providing education programmes, signage and promoting community safety
• Providing Dog parks

There are additional costs associated with vehicles, facilities, administration, record keeping (including the updating of the National Dog Database) and staff costs.

There is also a small ratepayer contribution towards the costs of animal management services for stock control on roads.

Being a responsible dog owner

All dogs must be on a leash (unless in a Council recognised off leash area) and wearing the correct dog registration tag when out in public.

Replacement tags may be obtained from Animal Control for $5 if the current tag has been lost, damaged or stolen.

Please fence your property so that any visitors have safe access to your front door without coming into contact with your dog.

If you have more than two dogs on a property you need to have a multiple dog property licence (with the exception of rural zoned properties where dogs are kept solely for herding stock).

Microchipping

Microchipping is a simple and safe way to identify dogs and your dog is more likely to be returned to you if it is lost or stolen.

All dogs registered in New Zealand for the first time after 1 July 2006 (with the exception of working farm dogs) must be microchipped.

Puppies must be microchipped within two months of first registration.

Animal Control provides this service for $25.

Collars, leads, muzzles, bark collars and worm tablets are available for purchase from Animal Control.

Obligations of dog owners

(Section 5 of the Dog Control Act 1996)

• To ensure that the dog is registered as required by law, and notify Animal Control of any change of address or ownership.
• To keep the dog under control at all times.
• To supply the dog with proper care and attention and with sufficient food, water and shelter.
• To ensure that the dog has adequate and regular exercise.
• To ensure that the dog does not cause a nuisance to any other person, whether by persistent or loud barking or howling, or by any other means.
• To take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not injure, endanger or cause distress to any person.
• To ensure that the dog does not injure, endanger or cause distress to any stock, poultry, domestic animal or protected wildlife.
• To take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not damage or endanger any property belonging to any person.
• To comply with the requirements of the Dog Control Act 1996 and all regulations and bylaws of the Marlborough District Council.

Please report any incident to Animal Control where you, your pet or stock has been intimidated or attacked by a dog. It may happen again and be more serious.