Increase in dog pound release charges
Some dog owners will be paying more to get their pet released from the pound as the Southland District Council imposes new microchipping laws.
The council yesterday increased release charges for unregistered dogs and registered dogs impounded a second time from $80 to $110, effective from November 1. You better get yourself a smart dog!! A border collie comes to mind...
The increase was to cover the costs imposed by the Dog Control Amendment Act, which says those dogs cannot be released until they are microchipped. $30 increase and the microchip cost $10? Am I thick... what kind of costs is this!!
Regulatory services group manager Lindsay McKenzie said each microchip cost about $10, with more again for staff time. The fees could stay the same, but that would mean the cost would need to be shared by all owners through registration fees. Why does it have to be shared? Why is it that a city can register dogs and cats for FREE, when a city in NZ has to 'cover' their cost?? How hard is it to update a database when all the dog owner's info is already there. It's a scam!
The council adopted the new charges, with Mr McKenzie noting that pound staff were being trained to insert the microchips themselves. That saved the cost of calling a vet – and meant dogs owned by council staff were among the first in the district to be microchipped. Yipdee doo!
Additionally, about 600 dogs remained unregistered. Staff will visit every property that had a registered dog before, and infringement notices will be issued where unregistered dogs are found. I guess they've got nothing better things to do? How about public education courses?
The council yesterday increased release charges for unregistered dogs and registered dogs impounded a second time from $80 to $110, effective from November 1. You better get yourself a smart dog!! A border collie comes to mind...
The increase was to cover the costs imposed by the Dog Control Amendment Act, which says those dogs cannot be released until they are microchipped. $30 increase and the microchip cost $10? Am I thick... what kind of costs is this!!
Regulatory services group manager Lindsay McKenzie said each microchip cost about $10, with more again for staff time. The fees could stay the same, but that would mean the cost would need to be shared by all owners through registration fees. Why does it have to be shared? Why is it that a city can register dogs and cats for FREE, when a city in NZ has to 'cover' their cost?? How hard is it to update a database when all the dog owner's info is already there. It's a scam!
The council adopted the new charges, with Mr McKenzie noting that pound staff were being trained to insert the microchips themselves. That saved the cost of calling a vet – and meant dogs owned by council staff were among the first in the district to be microchipped. Yipdee doo!
Additionally, about 600 dogs remained unregistered. Staff will visit every property that had a registered dog before, and infringement notices will be issued where unregistered dogs are found. I guess they've got nothing better things to do? How about public education courses?
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