Dog registration fees help fund a range of services that are designed to help dogs, their owners and the wider community. There is a small ratepayer contribution per year towards the cost of animal management services for stock control on our roads and highways and to recognise public good and education.
When to register your dog
- When it turns three months old
- When you first get him/her
- Thereafter on 1 July of each year
Online Visit Online Services (You will need your Whanganui District Council client number and the tax invoice number from your dog registration form).
By email Please use this form to register your dog. You can scan and email to cas@whanganui.govt.nz and you will receive an email confirmation. In person Visit us at 101 Guyton Street, Monday to Friday, 8.30am–5.00pm and a customer service staff member can guide you through the registration process. [Insert the following six sections as collapsible regions:] Change dog owner details
Please use this form to apply for change of dog ownership details. You can scan and email to cas@whanganui.govt.nz and you will receive an email confirmation. Fees Fees 2022/23 (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023)
Non-working dogs (including GST)
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Full fee First three dogs* $120.00 fee per dog Prompt payment discount Registration paid on or before 31 July 2022 for the first three dogs (not applicable to multi-dog reduced fee dogs) $12.00 discount per dog Neutered/spayed discount For registrations paid on or before 31 July 2022 and veterinarian certificate provided to receive the discount (not applicable to working dogs) $24.00 discount Responsible dog ownership (RDO) Owner has met criteria to be a responsible dog owner. Applicable per dog (not applicable if registration is unpaid from 1 August 2022) $24.00 discount Multi-dog reduced fee* For the fourth and subsequent non-working dog with one owner. Subject to pre-approval $10.00 fee per dog PENALTY Classified dangerous dog Additional fee for dogs classified dangerous 150% of applicable fee Penalty fee late payment Registration unpaid from 1 September 2022 of registration year incurs a penalty 20% of outstanding fee
Working dogs (including GST)
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Full fee First three working dogs* $40.00 fee per dog Prompt payment discount Registration paid on or before 31 July 2022 for first three working dogs $4.00 discount per dog Multi-working dog reduced fee* For the fourth and subsequent working dog with one owner. Subject to pre-approval $10.00 fee per dog PENALTY Penalty fee late payment Registration paid on or after 1 September 2022 of registration year incurs a penalty 20% of outstanding fee
* Non-neutered/spayed and non-working dogs will be identified first when calculating first three dogs.
Impounding fees (including GST)
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First impound Within registration year $90.00 Second and subsequent impound Within registration year $160.00 per dog Sustenance fee Charged after 7 days $15.00 (daily)
Other fees (including GST)
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Microchipping fee $25.00 Sale of dog fee Plus any other relevant charges $35.00
Dog registration fees must be paid in full by Sunday, 31 July 2022 to receive a prompt payment discount. Good dog rebate This rebate will be lost for one year for the following reasons:
- The dog attacked a person or another animal.
- A justified rushing complaint was lodged against the dog.
- The dog was impounded.
- The dog was consistently wandering.
- The owner failed to notify a change of address or ownership.
- A justified barking complaint was lodged against the dog.
- The owner has been prosecuted for an offence or has had an infringement notice issued relating to the dog.
- An owner was found with an unregistered dog.
What your registration fee covers
- Response to complaints including:
- Barking dogs/dangerous dogs.
- Wandering dogs/rushing dogs.
- Dogs fouling on public/private land.
- Attacks on people/domestic pets/stock/wildlife.
- Mediation between neighbours on animal matters.
- Regular monitoring of problem areas and rubbish day areas.
- Dogs restrained by the public/caught in traps.
- Enforcement of the Dog Control Act and Whanganui District Council bylaws.
- 24 hour service.
- Promoting better care and control of dogs:
- Visits to schools/community groups when requested.
- Educating owners with problem dogs.
- Radio/newspaper information.
- Advice to dog owners and the public.
- Dog poo bins located in Council approved dog exercise areas.
- Provides and maintains the Pound facilities:
- Notifying known owners if their dog is impounded.
- Impounding wandering dogs/problem dogs.
- Re-homing suitable dogs to suitable owners.
- Euthanisation of unclaimed dogs.
- Accepts all unwanted dogs.
- The management of dogs with unknown owners.
- Legal action for:
- Dogs attacking persons/animals.
- Bylaw offences.
- Failing to register dogs.
- Failing to control dogs.
- Barking dogs.
Microchipping Dog registration and microchipping are two different processes. You must register your dog every year, but you only need to microchip your dog once. The following are required to be microchipped:
- All dogs registered in New Zealand for the first time (excluding working dogs that are exempt).
- All dogs that have been classified as dangerous or menacing on or after 1 December 2003 (including working dogs).
- All unregistered dogs that are impounded.
- All registered dogs that are impounded twice in the same registration year.
Working dogs A working dog is:
- Any guide dog, hearing dog or companion dog (companion dog means a dog certified by the Top Dog Companion Trust as being a companion dog or under training as a companion dog)
- Any dog:
- Kept by the Police, Customs Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Defence; or
- Kept solely or principally for the purposes of herding or driving stock; or
- Kept by the Department of Conservation; or
- Kept solely or principally for the purpose of destroying pests under the Biosecurity Act 1993; or
- Owned by a security guard as defined in Section 4 of the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act 1974.