City unleashes dog fee hikes

Whenuapai resident Rachel Butler is taking action. Last week she got a tip-off from an Auckland Council employee warning dog registration fees are set to increase markedly in July, in some cases by more than 100 per cent.

The fee increases (see below) are listed in the revenue and financing policy chapter of the Auckland Council Long Term Plan, out for public submissions from tomorrow.

As the responsible owner of two dogs, Ms Butler was shocked to learn of proposed fee hikes and set about alerting her contacts.

This week a fellow dog-owner set up the "Stand Up Auckland Dog Owners" Facebook site in an effort to raise awareness of the fee increase and encourage action. Within three days it had almost 800 members.
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WHAT YOU WILL PAY
Auckland Council's new dog registration fees set to come into effect on July 1:
If paid before August 1, 2012:

Standard fee: $160, up from  $104
Desexed dog: $120, up from $75

Dog owner licence with desexed dog: $120, up from $47
Dog owner licence with unfixed dog: $160, up from $53

Superannuitant with community
services card: $50, up from $47
Working farm dog: $50, up from $23

Paid after August 1:
Standard, desexed and unfixed dogs: another $50
Superannuitants and farm dogs: another $25