Tēnā koe,

Thank you for contacting us. Your request has been logged under the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any case no
later than within 20 working days.  

You can also call us freephone 0800 932 463. Please quote Request No.
OIA251718 if you require any further information.

If you would like to notify us about anything further regarding this
matter, you can reply to this email.

Ngā mihi,

Whangarei District Council

 

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Tēnā koe Madeline,

 

I refer to your request of June 29, 2025 for Information about “Dog
Registration Fees”. Your request was referred to council’s Health and
Bylaws Department for consideration and supply of the information to your
following question/request:

 

o Total amount of dog registration fees received and a breakdown of
where the funds were used for the 2023-2024 period

 

Total “dog registration fee” income for the 2023/2024 financial year was
$1,087,813.

 

With regards to what these fees are used for, it is important to note that
the income from dogs is “ringfenced”, which means any income from dogs
must be spend by WDC on dog related activities and nothing else. In
addition, Council’s Revenue & Financing Policy allows and provides for the
‘subsidisation’ of dog control costs, from general rates between 20% to
40%.

That also means dog owners contribute towards the cost of providing dog
control service between 60% and 80%.

 

The Dog Control Act 1996 (the Act) and Council’s Dog Management Bylaw and
Policy stipulates what Council is legally required to do and provide and
what any income will pay for.   

 

Annually any income was used for the following dog related expenses:

o Provision of comprehensive dog control services, as required under
the Act, such as Dog Control Officers, shelter and administrative
staff and related costs such as vehicles etc.
o The provision and maintenance of a dog pound
o Dog feed and cost of looking after impounded dogs
o Provision of Veterinary Services for the treatment of dog  
o Dog adoption costs, such as for desexing and microchipping etc.
o Dog euthanisation and cremation costs
o Legal cost for prosecuting owners of dogs that attacked someone or
other dogs/animals   
o General Government levies to maintain the National Dog Database
o Fee and debt collection costs
o Ministry of Justice fine lodgement costs
o Doubtful and bad debt costs
o Annual dog tags
o Cost of providing and replacing dog related signage

 

Whilst not specifically requested, but for context, Council’s total
expenditure for dog control related cost for the 2023-2024 period was
$1,383,613.

 

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your
request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of
the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
the decision.

 

Regards

Reiner Mussle  

Manager | Health & Bylaws

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag 9023,
Te Mai, Whangārei 0143

P 09 430 4200 | [1]www.wdc.govt.nz

[2]Whangarei District Council logo

 

 

 

 

 

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