Animal Control

Owning a Dog

Owning a dog is a pleasure and a privilege - and it takes care and commitment.

There are many responsibilites that come with owning a dog, such as training, housing, feeding and exercising.

There are also legal responsibilites. If you own a dog, it is your legal obligation to:

• keep your dog under control (fines of up to $3,000 apply if you fail to comply)
  
• ensure that your dog receives proper care and attention and is supplied with proper and sufficient food, water and shelter (fines of up to $5,000 apply if you fail to comply)
  
• ensure that your dog receives adequate exercise (fines of up to $5,000 apply if you fail to comply).

The information below explains your licensing obligations as a dog owner in the Kapiti Coast District, and informs you of the local Dog Access Zones.

Registering your Dog

It is a legal requirement in New Zealand to register your dog annually, for which there is a fee.

If you are new to the Kapiti Coast District, have a new dog, or have an unregistered dog you need to register your dog with the Council immediately.

• All registrations are due on 1 July, but we generally allow until the Friday of the first week in August for fees to be paid before applying late charges.
• All dogs must be registered by three months of age. 

If you do not register your dog, you will be liable to fines of up to $3,000.00.

What are registration fees used for?

Your registration fee contributes to the cost of the Animal Control Service and meeting the requirements of the Dog Control Amendment Act (2003).

Some of the services your registration fee provides are:

• promoting better care and control of dogs
• responding to complaints
• impounding of dogs
• providing and maintaining the Kapiti Coast District Pound
• taking legal action against owners of unregistered and uncontrolled dogs
• implementing national dog control policies
• monitoring and enforcing dog control bylaws
• providing public education programmes
• advising owners about training and dog control.

How do I register my dog?

Dog Registration Application Form (2 pages, 207kb).

You can also register your dog at your local Council Service Centres in:

Otaki
Otaki Library
Main Street
Otaki
Telephone: 06 364 9317
Office hours: Monday to Friday; 9.00a.m. - 5.00p.m,

Paraparaumu
175 Rimu Rd
Private Bag 601
Paraparaumu
Telephone: 04 296 4700
Office Hours: Monday to Friday; 8.00a.m. - 5.00p.m.

Waikanae
Waikanae Library
Mahara Place
Telephone: 04 296 4761
Office Hours: Monday to Friday; 9.00a.m. - 5.00p.m.

How much does it cost to register my dog?

Please refer to the tables below for a schedule of fees. You are eligible for a discounted fee if you:

• pay on time
• qualify and apply for Approved Ownership (you must meet the criteria and apply before April 1)
• have your dog neutered or speyed
• are a member of the New Zealand Kennel Club.

Any dog not displaying current registration tags on its collar is deemed to be unregistered, and can attract fines of up to $3,000. Replacement tags cost $5.00 for the first and $10 for any subsequent replacements.

Approved Owners

You may be eligible for Approved Owner status, which entitles you to discounted registration fees. To qualify, you must have: 

• adequate fencing
• a 12 month 'clean' history with Kapiti Coast District Council Animal Control.

Council reserves the right to exercise discretion in the final grant of Approved Owner status.

Approved Owner Application Form (1 page, 49kb).

Dog Registration Fees

These are the current annual fees (1 July 2007 - 30 June 2008) for owning a dog on the Kapiti Coast District:

ENTIRE DOG
	CLASS OF DOG	REG. FEE	FEE (including penalty) IF PAID AFTER 5PM FRIDAY 8 AUGUST 2008
A	Seeing eye/Hearing ear	Nil	Nil
B	Working Dog	$55.00	$80.00
	Working Dogs 3rd and Subsequent	$30.00	$45.00
C	Standard Dog	$148.00	$220.00
D	Approved Owner	$128.00	$220.00
G	Owner Current Member of New Zealand Kennel Club	$123.00	$220.00

NEUTER/SPEY DOG
	CLASS OF DOG	FULL FEE	FEE (including penalty) IF PAID AFTER 5PM FRIDAY 8 AUGUST 2008
A	Seeing eye/Hearing ear	Nil	Nil
B	Working Dog	$55.00	$80.00
	Working Dogs 3rd and Subsequent	$30.00	$45.00
E	Standard Dog	$75.00	$110.00
F	Approved Owner	$55.00	$110.00
	Dogs Classified as Dangerous Dogs	$220.00	$330.00

Dog owners must provide either a Neuter/Spey certificate from their vet, or complete a Neuter/Spey Declaration form to receive this discount.

Refunds

If your dog dies, you are entitled to a proportionate refund of your registration fee.  You must return the tag and/or provide proof of death from your vet, or sign a Deceased Dog Declaration Form.  The refund is for full months left in the registration year following the notification.

Click here to download the Deceased Dog Declaration form (24 KB).

Keeping Multiple Dogs

Keeping three or more dogs aged three months or more on an urban property requires a special licence, called a Special Licence to Keep Three or More Dogs.

Click here to download the Special Licence to Keep Three or More Dogs application form (33 KB).

Change of Address

Your dog's registration is valid throughout the country. If you move away from the Kapiti Coast District you need to notify the Council in your new area, which will exchange Kapiti Coast District Council dog tags for theirs free of charge.

If you move to the Kapiti Coast District, you need to notify the Kapiti Coast District Council within 14 days.  Animal Control will record the details of you and your dog and exchange your old dog tags for free.

Change of Ownership

If you sell or re-home your dog the registration remains valid, but both you and the new owner must inform your respective Councils within 14 days. Dog tags will be exchanged free of charge.

Click here to download the Notification of Dog Transferred Out of District form (25 KB).

Impoundment

If your dog is uncontrolled in a public place, is found to be unregistered, or is creating noise causing distress it will be impounded.

In this event, Animal Control will endeavour to contact a dog's owner as identified on its dog tag.

If the dog has no identification, Animal Control will impound it for seven days after which it becomes the property of Council.

If your dog is missing, please telephone Animal Control on (04) 904-5700.

Dog Impoundment Charges:

Failure to pay impoundment and related fees prior to or at the time of release of a dog is an Infringement Offence under the Kapiti Coast District Council Dog Control Bylaw (1997). The infringement fee is $200.

Stock Callout Charges:

Dog Access Zones

Restrictions apply as to where you may take your dog and the freedom from its leash it has.

Zoning is as follows:

• Exercise areas - dogs can be off the leash but must still be under the owner's control, and owners must carry a leash at all times to use if necessary
• Controlled - dogs must be on a leash at all times, including on all public footpaths, streets and roads within the District (urban and rural)
• Prohibited - no dogs allowed.

Fines of up to $500 apply to owners failing to comply with these restrictions.

Dog access zones are different for summer and winter.

• Summer access zones apply to beach and foreshore areas only from:

11.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. between 1 December - 31 March

• Winter access zones apply to beach and foreshore areas only from:

11.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. between 1 April - 30 November.

Select a region to view your local Dog Access Zones:

Otaki

Paekakariki

Paraparaumu

Waikanae

Annual Report

For a copy of the Annual Report on Dog Control Policy and Practices 2006/07 click here.

The information on this page has been prepared with reference to the Dog Control Amendment Act (2003).