Register your dog

We have extended the time limit to pay this year's dog registration until Tuesday 30 September. 

Dog registration fees are set under the Dog Control Act 1996. Disability assist and specified agency are as defined in section 2 of the Act.

You can keep your dog registration costs down by:

• paying your registration fees on time
• desexing and microchipping your dog
• being a preferred owner

Your dog registration pays for the Council to monitor and enforce the Dog Control Act 1996 and ensure compliance with local dog control bylaws and policies. Our Animal Control team investigate and respond to all reported dog complaints and incidents.

The information we collect about your dog goes onto a national register. This helps to identify and locate 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.

Dog registration pays for:

• promoting better care and control of Palmerston North's 9,600 dogs
• patrolling public areas and promoting community safety
• educating dog owners and encouraging responsible dog ownership
• dealing with aggressive and roaming dogs and irresponsible owners
• running the preferred owner scheme for responsible dog owners
• responding to dog complaints and animal nuisances
• maintaining national dog database records
• maintaining the animal shelter. All impounded dogs are given food, water, shelter and exercise

It's an offence to have an unregistered dog and all dogs must wear a current registration tag so they can be identified. If your dog is found without the correct registration tag, it will be considered unregistered and could be impounded. The infringement fee for unregistered dogs is $300.