Notes on Registration - Dog Control Act 1996

All dog owners with dogs ordinarily kept in the Ōpōtiki District must register their dogs with Ōpōtiki District Council.

All dogs must be registered before the dog attains the age of three months. It is an offence to keep a dog older than three months which is unregistered. On conviction, a court may impose a fine of up to $3,000 or an infringement of $300 may be issued.

On completing the form properly, a dog owner may submit, post or deliver it, together with the appropriate fees payable, to the Dog Registrar, Ōpōtiki District Council, PO Box 44, Ōpōtiki 3162 or Ōpōtiki District Council’s office at 108 St John Street, Ōpōtiki. You can also complete your Dog Registration Application online and we will contact you with the amount you are required to pay before we finalise processing of registration.

It is an offence, when applying for the registration of a dog, to make any written statement knowing that statement to be false. On conviction, a court may impose a fine of up to $3,000.

Replacement tags may be obtained from the Ōpōtiki District Council offices at a cost of $5.00 per tag if the current tag has been lost or stolen.

Any dog not wearing a collar having a current registration tag attached will, until the contrary is proved, be treated as unregistered, and as such, may be seized and impounded by an animal control officer or dog ranger.

On change of ownership of any registered dog, both the previous owner and the new owner must, within 14 days, given written notice to Ōpōtiki District Council of the change of ownership and the residential address of the new owner and the address at which the dog will be kept. It is an offence not to comply with this requirement. On conviction, a court may impose a fine of up to $500.

If the owner’s address is changed within the district, the owner must, within 14 days, give written notice of the change to Ōpōtiki District Council.

If any dog is transferred to and kept in another territorial authority’s district other than the one in which it has been kept, for one month or more, the owner must, within six weeks of the transfer, give written notice of the transfer to both territorial authorities, setting out the address at which the dog will be kept. It is an offence not to comply with this requirement. On conviction, a court may impose a fine of up to $500.

If the fee for the registration of a dog is paid and that dog dies, a refund will be made on request as follows:

• If a dog dies before the commencement of the year, the full fee will be refunded;
• If the dog dies during the year, 1/12th of the annual fee for each complete month remaining in the registration year AFTER THE DATE OF APPLICATION for a refund, will be refunded.

If any dog is first required to be registered after 1 August in any registration year, the fee shall be 1/12th of the annual fee for each complete month remaining in the registration year after the GST.

Owners wishing to claim a reduced fee for neutered dogs must produce a certificate from a registered veterinarian certifying that the dog has been neutered.

CONTROL OF DOGS

Section 52, 53,54A and 65, Dog Control Act 1996

The owner of a dog must keep the dog under control at all times and, when in a public place, must use or carry a leash at all times.

A dog will be treated as not being under control –

• If it is found at large on any land or premises other than a public place or a private way without the consent (express or implied) of the occupier or person in charge of the land or the premises; or
• If it is found at large in any public place or in any private way in contravention of any regulations or bylaw.

You will commit an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or an infringement fee of $200 if you fail to comply with this provision.

OBLIGATIONS OF DOG OWNER

Section 54, Dog Control Act 1996

The owner of a dog must ensure that the dog receives:

• Proper care and attention and is supplied with proper and sufficient food, water and shelter; and
• Adequate exercise.

Failure to comply with this provision may result in the dog(s) being seized and impounded by an animal control officer or dog ranger. You will also commit an offence and be liable on conviction to imprisonment for up to three months or to a fine not exceeding $5,000.

CONTROL OF DOG ON OWNER’S PROPERTY

Sections 52A and 65, Dog Control Act 1996

The owner of a dog must ensure, when the dog is on land or premises occupied by the owner, that –

• The dog is under the direct control of a person; or
• The dog is confined within the land or premises in such a way that it cannot freely leave the land or premises.

You will commit an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of $3,000 or an infringement fee of $200, if you fail to comply with this provision. In addition, an animal control officer or dog ranger may seize and impound the dog.

OWNER’S DATE OF BIRTH

Section 34(2)(a), Dog Control Act 1996

Your date of birth is required to enable you to be distinguished from other persons with the same name. Certainty of identification is required in the enforcement of the provisions of the Dog Control Act 1996.

SUPPLY OF REGISTER INFORMATION

Section 35, Dog Control Act 1996

The information supplied will be kept by Ōpōtiki District Council but may only be used for lawful official purposes and will not be generally available to the public. However, section 35 of the Dog Control Act 1996 allows the name and address of the owner of any specified dog to be made available to any person who has made a written application for that information. Ōpōtiki District Council must be satisfied of the identity of that applicant and that the information is required for one of a limited number of specified purposes, such as returning a lost dog to its owner or seeking compensation for damage.