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Dog owners best register pooches in time or feel council’s bite.
While dogs in the Waikato District Council area must be registered by July 31 (see below for more), their Super City pup pals need to be known to Auckland Council before August 1.
In the Auckland Council region, more than 2500 reports of dog attacks on people and animals were recorded from July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, figures reveal.
During this time, there were 16,739 reports of roaming dogs and the animal management teams responded to in excess of 40,000 requests for service leading to more than 10,000 dogs being impounded.
Council issued a gentle reminder that registrations opened on June 1. As south Auckland is home to the lion’s share of pooches, the message is especially well suited here.
Registration helps to ensure dogs and people are kept safe while funding essential animal management services, council’s animal management manager, Elly Waitoa, explains.
“Registering your dog is a small job that makes a big difference. It helps us reunite lost dogs with their families faster, supports animal management services across Auckland and promotes responsible dog ownership,” she says.
“We know Aucklanders love their dogs and getting registered on time is one of the best ways to show it.”
This year’s green registration tags will make it easier for animal management to spot good dogs.
Behind most bad dogs, there’s often a bad owner.Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, councillor Josephine Bartley, appreciates this, especially so due to an incident earlier this year.
“I experienced how frightening a dog attack can be when I was trying to protect my beloved elderly dog. It reinforced for me just how important responsible dog ownership is, not only for the safety of our pets, but also for the safety of our communities as well.”
Fortunately, owners who shirk their responsibilities are in a minority. Last year, almost 90 per cent (from a total of approximately 132,000) dogs known to council were registered.
“Most dog owners are doing the right thing,” Bartley adds. “Registration is one of the simplest ways to show your dog is cared for, identifiable and part of a safer Auckland.”
Based on registrations, Labrador Retrievers remain the region’s most popular breed of dog, followed by Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Border Collies. Bella, Luna and Charlie topped the list of Auckland’s most popular dog names.
North Waikato’s fur-ever tags
Dogs’ best friends in southern Franklin are also being encouraged to ensure their pooches are registered.
However, the Waikato District Council (WDC) has a new trick for dogs, old and young alike.
Replacing plastic tags, new, durable metal tags are designed to last much longer. In addition, WDC is transitioning to a paperless registration system, council’s Rochelle Deane confirms.
“This means dog owners will only need to renew their dog registration annually, without receiving a new tag each year,” she says. “This will reduce plastic waste and make the registration process simpler for customers and staff, so it’s a win-win.”
Once the initial set-up costs are covered, council expects to save approximately $51,000 every year.
“We will see a significant cost saving over time. As well as the cost to get the plastic tags made each year, council staff spend around 400 hours allocating and posting the tags out,” Deane adds.
“We have more than 13,000 known dogs in the district, so it was time-consuming doing this every year. Sending the renewal notices by email, where possible, will also result in significant savings.”
Dogs in the WDC region should be registered by the end of July. See waikatodistrict.govt.nz for details.
