Animals - Frequently Asked Questions

Dogs

What age does my dog have to be before is it registered?
Your dog must be registered before it is 3 months old.

How much is registration?
Please check with Council as fees may change from year to year. For current fees please refer to the fees and charges section.

Can I pay my registration over a period of time?
Dog registrations must be paid in full for each dog.

When do I register my dog?
All dogs are required to be registered by 1 July each year. Discounted fees only apply until the 1 August each year.  Dogs that are new to the area must be registered within 14 days of moving into the District.

Where do I go to register my dog?
Contact the Council on telephone 03 314 8816 or  call in to your nearest Council office.

Do I have to keep my dog on a lead?
The Dog Control Amendment Act 2003 requires all owners of non-working dogs to use or carry a leash at all times.

Dog Control Areas Pamphlet

Do some dogs have to wear a muzzle?
Yes. Dogs that have been classified as dangerous or menacing by any local authority (classified by breed/type or behaviour), or dogs that are known by their owner to be a risk to people or other animals.

What should I do if my dog goes missing?
Please contact Council, we will then check to see if your dog has been impounded.  It’s also important that you let people who live near you know your dog is missing, so be sure to advertise, for example on the public notice board at your local supermarket.

What should I do if I find a dog?
Firstly, it’s important that you secure the dog. Then contact on telephone 03 314 8816. A member of Council’s animal services team will then contact you and arrange to collect the dog.

What happens if my dog is impounded?
Please contact our Animal Control Officer, Allen Dean on (03) 312 9461 or 027 279 6124, or phone the Council on telephone 03 314 8816 to collect your dog. You may be required to pay a fee (eg to cover things such as feeding costs). Dogs must be claimed within seven days.

What are the pound fees?
These vary. Please contact Council on telephone 03 314 8816 for the amount payable and /or refer to current fees and charges.

What can I do about barking dogs?
Please contact our Animal Control Officer, Allen Dean on (03) 312 9461 or 027 279 6124, or phone the Council on telephone 03 314 8816 on telephone 03 314 8816. You will need to supply details of the dog(s) location and frequency of barking i.e. dates/times and duration of barking.

Other animals

Am I allowed to keep poultry and pigs if I live in an urban area?
Yes, in some circumstances. Please contact Council on telephone 03 314 8816 for the criteria.

Am I allowed to keep rabbits if I live in an urban area?
Yes. These must be confined to the owner’s property at all times.

What do I do if I see cattle or horses wandering on a local road or state highway?
Please contact our Animal Control Officer, Allen Dean on (03) 312 9461 or 027 279 6124, or phone the Council on telephone 03 314 8816 on telephone 03 314 8816.