Auckland Council Cracks Down On Unregistered Dogs: Infringement Notices Issued As Last Resort

Auckland Council is, for the first time, taking firm
action against dog owners who have failed to register their
pets, with around 5,500 infringement notices to be issued
over the next few days.

Chair of the
Regulatory and Safety Committee, Councillor Josephine
Bartley, emphasised dog registration is not
optional.

“This is the first time
we’ve moved to last resort measures and issued
infringement notices. Dog registration is a legal
requirement designed to benefit both the community and pet
owners,” says Councillor Bartley.

The
initiative is part of the council’s strategy to curb
roaming dogs and dog attacks, by getting stricter on
Aucklanders who do not register, de-sex or vaccinate their
dogs, or keep them contained on their
property.

Infringement notices will be sent to owners
of “sighted” dogs; dogs which were registered last
financial year but not re-registered or dogs known to be
still alive from either being “sighted’ by Animal
Management Officers or as the result of a
complaint.

In November, Auckland Council sent out
22,929 pre-infringement reminder notices to the owners of
unregistered dogs. This proactive approach resulted in a
significant increase in registrations and provided the
council with more accurate data on the number of dogs
residing in the region, as well as increasing revenue that
goes directly towards providing animal management
services.

“We appreciate those dog owners
who responded to the pre-infringement notices and did the
right thing by registering their dogs and paying the fee.
But for those who haven’t, this is the final warning,”
says Councillor
Bartley.

“Responsible dog ownership
begins with dog registration. Ratepayers should not have to
bear the cost of irresponsible dog owners who refuse to
register their animals.

“This
enforcement action highlights Auckland Council’s
commitment to reducing roaming dogs and dog attacks and
ensuring dogs are registered across the
region.”

The $300 fines come after multiple
attempts to contact owners and provide them with
opportunities to renew their dog
registrations.

Auckland Council’s Animal Management
Manager Elly Waitoa acknowledged the positive response from
many dog owners following the pre-infringement notices being
sent but reinforced the need for further
compliance.

“The number of unregistered dogs has now
reduced which is a significant improvement,” says Ms
Waitoa.

“However, too many owners have still ignored
their responsibilities. We have given them ample time and
reminders, and now, as a last resort, we are issuing
infringement notices. Our goal is for all dog owners to
register their pets rather than face a
fine.”

Auckland Council urges all remaining
unregistered dog owners to act immediately to avoid
penalties. Pet registration is a legal requirement, and
ongoing non-compliance will not be tolerated.

For more
information on dog registration and compliance, click here

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