The following page has been prepared to give residents more information about the importance of microchipping their dog.

Microchipping has proven to be very successful in tracing owners of lost dogs all around New Zealand, helping to reunite dogs with their owners.

Under the Dog Control Act 1996, the following dogs must be microchipped:

• dogs registered for the first time after 1 July 2006
• unregistered dogs impounded after 1 July 2006
• registered dogs impounded twice after 1 July 2006
• dogs classified as 'menacing' or 'dangerous' after 1 December 2003

There are two important reasons for microchipping a dog:

• to identify a lost or stolen dog and return him or her to the owner
• to identify a dog which has been aggressive and classified as dangerous or menacing. This is especially important if a dog owner attempts to disguise the dog's identity. 

The microchip provides a secure, life-long unique identification number for your dog. This number is recorded on both Waitomo District Council records and the National Dog Database.

Once microchipped, your dog can be "scanned" for his or her microchip number and easily identified through either database.

Dog registration and microchipping are two separate processes. You must register your dog every year, but you only need to microchip your dog once.

Cost: $25.00 per dog.

Please contact our Customer Services Team for more information - phone 0800 932 4357.

Exemptions

All dogs registered for the first time after 1 July 2006 must be microchipped unless they are:

• Working dogs used solely, or principally for the purposes of driving stock,
• Existing dogs, other than those listed above.

Please note that working dogs are not exempt from microchipping requirements if they have been impounded and are not currently registered, or are currently registered but impounded for the second time.

If you believe your dog should not be microchipped for any reason, you must write to Waitomo District Council explaining.  Include all relevant documentation (e.g. a certificate from a registered vet about your dog's health condition).

Penalties

If your dog is not microchipped and is required to be, you will have committed an offence under the Dog Control Act 1996 and:

• May be issued with an infringement notice with a fee of $300.

• If the Court considers the matter, (e.g. through a defended hearing of the infringement notice), the Court may impose a fine up to $3,000.