Dog Owner Responsibilities

When you register your dog, you'll be given a registration tag to attach to their collar. This tag is linked to their registration details so if they ever go missing, we can make sure they get back to you safely. Your dog should always be wearing their current registration tag on their collar.

If your dog's registration tag is damaged or lost, please let us know as soon as possible so we can arrange a replacement for you. Either complete our online Dog Maintenance Form or pop into one of our offices.

If your dog passes away, please let us know in writing by using our online Dog Maintenance Form, which can be found here.

Please note that at the time of notifying us of your dog passing away, you may request a pro-rata registration fee refund for any months remaining in the current registration period.

*Pro Rata fee - determined by dividing the registration fee payable for a full year by 12; and multiplying that amount by the number of complete months remaining in the registration year.

Please visit our Change of Circumstances page for more information.

A working farm dog is any dog kept by any person earning their main income from sheep or cattle farming, solely or primarily for the herding or driving of stock.

Under s36A of the Dog Control Act 1996, working dogs are not required to be microchipped. If you wish to register a dog as a working farm dog, you will need to complete our statutory declaration form and supply this when registering the dog for the first time. 

Note: You can get a rebate on fourth and subsequent working dogs. To be eligible for this rebate, Council must have on record a completed statutory declaration form for each dog.

When a dog is classified as Menacing, the classification extends over New Zealand, meaning wherever you and your dog reside in New Zealand, the classification remains in force.

Under the Dog Control Act 1996, Councils in New Zealand may classify a dog as Menacing. This might be due to an observed or reported behaviour OR because of the dog's breed or type. In accordance with s33C of the Dog Control Act 1996, dogs belonging wholly or predominately to a breed or type specified in Schedule 4 of the Dog Control Act 1996, must be classified Menacing.

Breeds that are classified as Menacing:

• Brazilian Fila
• Dogo Argentino
• Japanese Tosa
• Perro de Presa Canario 

Types that are classified as Menacing:

• American Pit Bull Terrier

Your responsibilities as the owner of a Menacing dog include:

• you must not allow your dog to wander and be in any public place or private way, except when confined completely within a vehicle or cage; and
• when in public, your dog must be muzzled in a manner that prevents the dog from biting while still being able to breathe and drink without obstruction; and
• if requested by a Council, within 1 month after receiving notification of the classification, provide that Council with a Vet Certificate verifying that the dog has been neutered OR for reasons specified on the certificate, that the dog is not in a fit condition to be neutered; and
• if required, you must provide a Vet Certificate verifying that your dog has been implanted with a microchip.

Under the Dog Control Act 1996, Councils in New Zealand are required to classify a dog as Dangerous if:

• the owner of the dog has been convicted of an offence against s57(2); or
• the Council has reasonable grounds, on the basis of sworn evidence attesting to aggressive behaviour by the dog on 1 or more occasions, to believe that the dog constitutes a threat to the safety of any person, stock, poultry, domestic animal, or protected wildlife; or
• the owner of the dog admits in writing that the dog constitutes a threat to the safety of any person, stock, poultry, domestic animal, or protected wildlife.

Your responsibilities as the owner of a Dangerous dog include:

• You must ensure that, from a date no later than 1 month after notification of the classification, the dog is kept within a securely fenced portion of your property (note: it must not be necessary to enter the portioned area to access at least 1 door of any dwelling on the property); and
• you must not allow your dog to wander or be in any public place or private way, except when confined completely within a vehicle or cage, without being-
  1. muzzled in a manner that prevents the dog from biting while still being able to breathe and drink without obstruction; and
  2. controlled on a leash (except when in a dog exercise area specified in our Dog Control Bylaw)

• you must provide, within 1 month after receiving notification of the classification, your Council with a Vet Certificate verifying that the dog has been neutered OR for reasons specified on the Vet Certificate, that the dog is not in a fit condition to be neutered; and
• if required, you must provide a Vet Certificate verifying that your dog has been implanted with a microchip; and
• you must, at the time of registering your dog each year after the date of notification of classification, pay the registration fee for your dog at 150% of the level that would apply if the dog were not classified as Dangerous; and
• you must not, without the written consent of the Council in whose district the dog is to be kept, dispose of the dog to any other person.

Registering/Renewing Registration for a Dangerous dog

As stated above, the registration of Dangerous dogs requires an additional fee. Please see our Schedule of Fees & Charges for the current rates.

Under the Dog Control Act 1996, there are certain circumstances when we may disqualify a person from being an owner of a dog. A disqualification under the Act is enforced for a period specified by us, which may vary depending on the circumstances.

Please see section 25 of the Dog Control Act 1996 for more information, or we will be happy to receive any questions at customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz