Dog registration blitz and menacing dogs - 28/01/2004

The District has 360 dogs that are unregistered at the end of January (the registration year began on 1 July 2003). A further 389 owners have moved address but have failed to notify the Council of their, and their dog's, new address.

"The Council's Animal Control Officers will be following up on all unpaid registrations, even if an owner has been fined by the District Court, and seizing dogs remaining unregistered," Environmental Services Manager Bob Davies said.

"The owners will then have a further seven days to register their dog. If they fail to do this, the dog then becomes the property of the Wanganui District Council."

The recent changes in the Dog Control Act 1996 give powers of entry and seizure to the Animal Control Officers. Instant fines have also increased. It is $300 for having an unregistered dog and $100 for failing to notify a change of address.

Letters of classification are being prepared to send to all the pit bull and pit bull cross dog owners, classifying their dog(s) as menacing. This means that the dogs will need to be muzzled in public and neutered. After 1 July 2006 they will have to be micro-chipped.

Dog owners will have 14 days in which to object to their dog's classification.