22 April 2024
Andy Langford
[FYI request #26243 email]
Official Information request – Dog Control Act
I am writing in response to your information request (fyi-request-26243-56e13b43), received on 26
March 2024, seeking information on the lifetime registration tag for dogs for the 2023-2024 dog
registration year. For clarity, your questions have been restated below, together with our response
(in blue):
1.
For the 2023-2024 dog registration year Council provided a lifetime registration tag for dogs,
rather than a tag for the current registration year, stating this “… replaces the current
system… “. Please provide:
a) Al information relating to the decision to adopt this scheme and the justification for
doing so*, and a copy of the documentation presented to Council ors when making the
decision to implement this scheme, the records of the decision, and any discussion before
the decision was made. * Whether cal ed a business case, s17A report, or other name, and including but
not limited to an analysis of options, cost/benefits, environmental impact, risks, decision-making criteria,
justifications for selecting this scheme not other options, etc.
The decision to move to a lifetime dog registration tag was an operational one, made to work
towards the DCC 2030 Zero Carbon Plan, reduce the waste to landfill from the non-biodegradable
plastic discs, and to reduce administrative costs.
A memorandum of 26 April 2022 on the ‘Proposal to move to lifelong metal dog registration tags
(from Annual Plastic Tags)’ is attached (Attachment A) which details the proposal, advantages and
disadvantages, costings and other matters considered.
Please note: Attachment A outlines the savings and expenditure (including the advantages and
disadvantages of moving to lifelong metal dog registration tags).
b) The amount expended on the scheme to date, including al advertising costs, in adequate
detail for the categories of costs to be separately identified, and identify which costs where
charged to the dog control or general rates budget.
The 26 April 2022 memorandum on the Proposal to move to lifelong metal dog registration
(Attachment A) includes a summary of the current and estimated costs for the dog tags by year
from 2023.
The tables below show the initial costs incurred with the new scheme and the costs for the Long
life dog tag campaign.
Initial costs:
March
Product costs
$38,490
3 year supply of tags & rings Funded from the Animal Services
2023
budget which includes registration
revenue and rates funding. These are
not separated budgets.
March
External
$10,040
Systems for new scheme
Funded from the Animal Services
2023
Consultancy
budget which includes registration
revenue and rates funding. These are
not separated budgets.
Total
$48,530
(excl GST)
Operational
Costs
Campaign costs are advised as follows:
Longlife Dog Tag campaign
Total Cost $ 19,095.01
GST exc
Newspaper advertising
$2723.49
Radio advertising
$2978.72
Printed material i.e. info flyers delivered to every registered dog owner $1993.00
Online advertising
$755
Photography and videography – this is also used for the Dog Registration $4600
campaign
Direct mail to stakeholders i.e. vets, groomers (envelopes, postage)
$44.80
c) The Dog Control Act requires a TA to provide a “… tag for the registration year…” and the
owner must ensure the current tag is attached to a col ar worn by the dog (s46), or the dog is
deemed unregistered (s44) and liable to be impounded (s50). Please provide the authority relied
on to replace that statutory scheme.
The authority relied on was section 46 of the Dog Control Act 1996, Issue of label or disc and
completion of registration.
d) As the Lifetime tags do not provide visual confirmation a dog is registered please provide the
projected costs of obtaining warrants for searches to confirm registration for the next year
registration year, including how many are expected to be obtained for dogs subsequently shown
to be registered.
Council will be able to refer to dog registration records and can confirm whether a dog is
unregistered and if a registration fee has been received.
If it is not intended to obtain warrants, please provide the statutory authority for searching
property without a warrant or the projected income generated by impounding dogs so Council
can check the registration number, or the projected costs of defending legal action taken by the
owners of dogs when Council exceeds its statutory authority.
Council requires its staff to act within their warrants and empowering legislation, and not exceed
their statutory authority.
2. During July 2023 the Bookbus service was extended to accept dog registration applications.
Given Council has accepted s 36 of the Dog Control Act requires dog owners to apply to
register their dogs is on or by 1 July, please provide:
a) Al information relating to the decision to provide a service for owners who had breached
their legal obligations, and the justification for doing so*, including a copy of the
documentation presented to Council ors when making the decision to implement this scheme,
the records of the decision, and any discussion before the decision was made.
DCC is aware that some residents may have difficulty accessing customer services and so provided
alternative ways for dog owners to register their dogs, in addition to the DCC service centres, and
online via the website.
This also provided an opportunity for Animal Control Officers to engage with the community and
provide information about Animal Services.
b) The costs of providing the service, including al advertising, and identify which costs where
charged to the dog control or general rates budget.
No additional costs were incurred in providing the Book Bus service, as payments were collected
by Animal Control Officers and administration staff.
c) The number of dogs registered using the Booksus option and the number of infringement
fees issued to owners who did so.
88 dogs were registered at the Book Bus. No infringements were issued to owners who registered
during July at the Book Bus.
I trust this this provides the information requested.
Yours sincerely
Lauren Riddle
Governance Support Officer
Dunedin City Council
Encls: 1
