Dog owner responsibilities

If you're registering your dog in the Horowhenua District for the first time, or transferring your dog from another area, there's some important information and obligations you need to understand and agree to as part of the registration process.

Notes on Registration

All dog owners with dogs ordinarily kept in the Horowhenua District must register with the territorial authority (Horowhenua District Council).

All dogs over the age of three months must be registered. It's an offence to keep a dog older than three months which is unregistered. On conviction, a Court may impose a fine of up to $3,000.

The completed application form, together with the fee payable, must be completed online, posted to the Dog Registrar, Horowhenua District Council, Private Bag 4002, Levin or delivered to Horowhenua District Council's main office. It's an offence when making an application for the registration of a dog to make any written statement knowing that statement to be false. On conviction, a Court may impose a fine of up to $3,000.

Dog tags (discs)

Replacement discs may be collected from the Horowhenua District Council if the current disc has been lost or stolen. Any dog that isn't wearing a collar that has a current registration label or disc attached will, until proven otherwise, be deemed to be unregistered.

Change of ownership

On change of ownership of any registered dog, both the previous owner and the new owner must give written notice to Horowhenua District Council within 14 days of the change of ownership. This notice must include the residential address of the new owner and the address at which the dog will be kept. It's an offence not to comply with this requirement. On conviction, a court may impose a fine of up to $500.

Change of address

If the owner’s address changes within the district, the owner must give written notice of the change to Horowhenua District Council within 14 days.

Transfer of dog registration

If any dog is transferred to and kept in the district of another territorial authority, other than the one in which it has been kept, for one month or more the owner must give written notice of the transfer to both authorities within six weeks of the transfer. This notice must set out the address at which the dog will be kept. It's an offence not to comply with this requirement. On conviction, a court may impose a fine of up to $500.

Deceased dog

Where the fee for the registration of a dog is paid and that dog dies, a refund will be made on request as follows:

  • where a dog dies before the commencement of the year, the full fee will be refunded;
  • where the dog dies during the year, one-twelfth of the annual fee for each complete month remaining in the registration year after the date of application for a refund will be refunded.

Registration fees

Where any dog is first required to be registered after 1 August in any registration year, the fee shall be one-twelfth of the annual fee for each complete month remaining in the registration year after the date of that registration. The registration fees include GST. Owners wishing to claim a reduced fee for desexed (neutered) dogs must produce a veterinary surgeon’s certificate certifying that the dog has been desexed.

If any dog over the age of three months is found on land other than it's owners or in any public place and is not wearing a collar that has a current registration label or disc attached, the dog may be seized and impounded.

Control of dogs (Section 52, 53 and 65 Dog Control Act 1996)

The owner of any dog must keep that dog under control at all times and, when in a public place, must use or carry a leash at all times.

A dog will be deemed to be not under control:

  • if it is found at large (loose or wandering) on any land or premises other than a public place or a private way without the consent (express or implied) of the occupier or person in charge of the land or those premises; or
  • if it is found at large in any public place or in any private way in contravention of any regulation or bylaw.

You'll commit an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or an infringement fee of $300 if you fail to comply with this provision.

Obligations of dog owners (Section 54, Dog Control Act)

The owner of any dog must:

  • ensure the dog receives proper care and attention and is supplied with proper and sufficient food, water, shelter; and
  • ensure the dog receives adequate exercise.

You'll commit an offence and be liable on conviction to imprisonment for up to three months or to a fine not exceeding $5,000 if you fail to comply with this provision.

Obligations of dog owners on owner’s property (Section 52A and 65, Dog Control Act 1996)

When the dog is on land or premises occupied by the owner, the owner of a dog must ensure:

  • the dog is under the direct control of a person; or
  • the dog is confined within the land or premises in such a way that it cannot freely leave the land or premises.

You'll commit an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of $3,000 or an infringement fee of $300 if you fail to comply with this provision. In addition, a dog control officer or dog ranger may seize and impound the dog.

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