Dog registration fees
varied and confusing

THE fees paid to councils to register dogs are often in the category of 'strange' but more often than not they can be justified as a necessary form of funding to help with informing dog owners about the care and responsibility that goes with dog ownership. Under that heading can be printed guides for dog owners, notices on dog walking areas, maintenence and wages for councils to run 'animal control' departments, provision of registration tags and other such expenses.

Here I have compared only two, all within New Zealand, and of course the fees in NZ dollars. But if readers have information on others, please let us know - and I know many countries do not require dogs to be registered so it would be interesting to hear about these too, and whether it would be better if they did opt for registration.

Christchurch City Council dog registration fees 2001-2002:

COMPANION DOG - is a dog certified as a Companion dog by the Top Dog Companion Trust.

HEARING EAR DOG - is a dog certified by the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as a Hearing Ear Dog or a dog under training as such. (This concession applies in respect of one dog only per household).

OWNERS GRANTED RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER STATUS - (granted prior to April 30) are required to register all dogs in their possession or care by June 30 in that year in order to obtain any rebate offered by the Council on the dog control fee.

SPAYED/NEUTERED DOGS - Evidence in the form of a veterinary certificate, or a declaration from the owner to the effect that the dog is spayed or neutered will be required, where that fact is not already recorded on the Council's dog register.

A DOG CLASSIFIED AS DANGEROUS - is a dog so classified under section 31 of the Dog Control Act 1996.

ALL OTHER DOGS - are dogs not included in the specific categories above of Responsible Dog Owner Status, spayed/neutered dogs, dangerous dogs, hearing ear dogs, companion dogs, or Guide Dogs for the blind.

Hamilton City Council dog registration fees 2001-2002 (All dogs must be registered by 3 months of age):

• Responsible Dog Owner's dogs $55.00
• Spayed/neutered dogs (with proof) $88.00
• Entire dogs (unneutered) $110.00
• Approved guide and hearing dogs no charge
• Working dogs $45.00

Impounding Fees: First impounding $60.00; subsequent impounding in same registration year $135.00. Daily sustenance fee, $11.00. Note: For impounded stock - all costs to be recovered from owner.

Miscellaneous: Licence fee for more than three dogs per property (other than rural properties) $27.00.
Collection or delivery of dog on behalf of owner $25.00.
Euthanasia/handover of dog at owner's written request $30.00.
Replacement of registration tag $5.00.

Registration fees paid on or after August 1, will incur a penalty in the 2002/03 year. Any dogs not registered before August 1 will automatically incur a 50% surcharge.

Dog owners may incur a $200 infringement fine for any unregistered dog on their property. The Council does not make any profit from dog registration fees. All fees include G5T.