Registering your dog

All dog owners must register their dogs by 1 July every year from when they are 3 months old.

Registration fees are used to maintain a safe and healthy environment for residents, dog owners and their pets.

Fees pay for:

• dog control
• managing the Palmerston North dog pound

About dog registration

All dogs need to be registered in the city or district in which it is nomally kept.  If you are new to Palmerston North or have a new or unregistered dog, you will need to register your dog immediately or when it reaches 3 months of age.  It is an offence to keep an unregistered dog. A dog owner may be fined up to $500 for failing to register the dog.

Once your dog is registered you will receive an account annually with payment due by 1 July of each year. 

Ensure that your dog is registered and wears a current registration tag at all times.  A dog without a current registration tag will be deemed unregistered.

A rebate is given for dogs that are spayed or neutered and the Palmerston North City Council has fee incentives for responsible dog ownership under the Preferred Owner classification scheme.

Preferred Owner Scheme

Why register your dog?

The registration information about your dog goes onto a national register and this helps in the location and identification of owners in the case of wandering, lost or stolen dogs. It also helps keep track of dogs who have changed owners or districts, or who have a history of complaints.

Seeking permission to own more than two dogs

Please contact the Customer Service Centre for information on how to apply for permission to own more than 2 dogs.

How to register your dog

Dogs can be registered at the Customer Service Centre.

Dogs moving into town will receive free registration if the owner produces proof of current registration from another council.