12 May 2006

Dog fee rise first in 9 years

Dog owners in Manukau City will pay more for their dog registration as the Council looks to recover half the cost of implementing a new dog management system and costs related to the national dog database and microchipping.

The current dog management system has been in place since 1993 and is no longer able to cope with demands from changes to the Dog Control Act in 2003 and improved administration and enforcement.

For dog owners it will mean better administration of applications for Responsible Dog Owner licences or licences to keep more than two dogs, and for the general public better administration of dog-related complaints. It will also enable data to be transferred to the new National Dog Database and the recording of microchip numbers.

The fee for owners who have responsible dog owner status (formerly known as Approved Dog Owners) will increase from $40 to $45 while the standard fee will increase from $80 to $90. The fee for owners of dogs classified as dangerous by the Council will increase from $120 to $135.

Penalties for late registration will also increase from $100 to $120 and from $150 to $180 for the late registration of dangerous dogs.

A new microchip implantation fee of $25 (without sedation) and a $50 fee for microchipping with sedation will apply to dogs microchipped at the Manukau City Council and Papakura District Council Animal Management Shelter.

Council has not increased responsible dog owner and standard owner registration fees since 1997. The increase is less than cumulative rate of inflation for the past nine years.

Funding for dog management services is shared with about half coming from dog owners in the form of registration fees and fines, and the other half from rates.

The standard registration fee applies to all new dog registrations and to those dog owners who do not fall into any other category. A Standard Owner must own a dog registered in Manukau City for at least 12 months and establish a history of no substantiated complaints before they can apply for the Responsible Dog Owner category.

The Responsible Dog Owner classification applies to all dog owners who have met the specific Responsible Owner criteria.

The Dangerous Dog classification applies to dogs classified as dangerous under the Dog Control Act 1996 due to any actual, or potential, threat to the safety of any person, stock, poultry, domestic animal or protected wildlife. The registration fee is $135. This is 150% more than the standard owner registration fee.

Dogs may also be classified as Menacing; however there is no separate registration fee for a menacing dog. The registration fee for a menacing dog depends on the classification of the owner - $45 for a Responsible Owner and $90 for a Standard Owner or a Probationary Owner.

There are also fees for stock management.

The accompanying schedule of fees was adopted by the Council’s Environment and Urban Design committee on 11 May.

Schedule of Fees

DOG MANAGEMENT FEES FEE (incl. GST)
Registration Fees If paid between 1 July to 31 July If paid after
31 July
Standard or Probationary Dog Owner $90.00 $120.00
Responsible Dog Owner $45.00 $120.00
Special Category Dog (Seeing eye dogs, Police dogs, Customs dogs, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries dogs, Ministry of Defence dogs, Department of Conservation dogs, Registered Hearing dogs, and Search and Rescue Dogs) $5.00 N/A
Dangerous Dog $135.00 $180.00

Application / Replacement Tag or Disc Fees FEE (incl. GST)
Permit to Keep More than Two Dogs $50.00
Responsible Dog Owner $25.00
Replacement Disc $5.00

Surcharge Fee (applies to all fees unless a price is otherwise listed)
Dangerous Dog 50%

Impounding Fees FEE (incl. GST)
Microchip Implantation (without sedation) $25.00
Microchip Implantation (with sedation) $50.00
Neuter Male $120.00
Spey female $150.00
First impounding $40.00
Second impounding and thereafter $80.00
Third and subsequent impounding $120.00
Sustenance per day $15.00

STOCK MANAGEMENT FEES FEE (incl. GST)
Impounding Fees
Bull $50.00
Cow, Steer, Horse or other large animal $30.00
Pig, Sheep or Goat $20.00
Sustenance per day $6.00
Driving Fee
Stock Driving Charge per kilometre $2.00

ENDS

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