Whakatane Animal Control
Whakatane residents expect effective animal control in the District, especially dog control. On this page you will find answers to the Frequently Asked Questions about dog and other animal control issues in Whakatane District.
Animals - Frequently Asked Questions
Dogs
What age does my dog have to be before is it registered?
Your dog must be registered before it is three months old.
How many dogs can I have?
Two, if you live in a residential area. If you keep more than two you will need a permit. Please contact the Council’s Animal Control team for an application.
Is it compulsory for me as a dog owner to supply my date of birth?
Yes it is compulsory. Your date of birth is required to enable you to be distinguished from other persons with the same name. Certainty of identification is required in the enforcement of the provisions of the Dog Control Act 1996.
When does the registration period start and finish each year?
The registration year is the same across all Councils and runs from 1 July to 30 June every year. Registration renewal fees are due by 30 June each year.
When do I register my dog?
All dogs are required to be registered by 1 July each year. Discounted fees apply only until 1 August each year. Dog registration renewals that are unpaid at 1 August will incur a 50% penalty. Dogs that are new to the area must be registered within 14 days of moving into the District.
Where do I go to register my dog?
Contact the Council’s Customer Services Centre on telephone 07 306 0500 or by email to request an application form, or call in to your nearest Council office.
What happens If don't register my dog?
A $300 infringement notice may be issued, or the dog may be seized and impounded, or prosecution may be incurred. When an unregistered dog is seized, sustenance fees apply and your dog must be registered before it can be released.
Do I have to keep my dog on a lead?
Dogs must be under control at all times. Any dog causing or likely to cause danger, distress or nuisance must immediately be placed under leash control. In this context, owners must carry a leash at all times. Dogs in exercise areas are not required to be on a lead, but must be under control.
If my dog dies, am I entitled to a refund?
Yes you are. If your dog dies, you need to notify us in writing and specifically request a refund. It is important that you do this as soon as possible, as the refunds are calculated on the number of full months left in the registration year, from the date we receive your written notification. Refunds are provided in only this circumstance.
Do some dogs have to wear a muzzle?
Yes. Dogs that have been classified as dangerous or menacing by any local authority (classified by breed/type or behaviour), or dogs that are known by their owner to be a risk to people or other animals must wear a muzzle. For more information please contact the Council’s Animal Control team on telephone 07 306 0500.
What should I do if my dog goes missing?
Please contact the Council so we can enter your dog into the lost and found animal database. We will then check to see if your dog has been impounded. It’s also important that you let people who live near you know your dog is missing, so be sure to advertise, for example on the public notice board at your local supermarket. Also check with your local SPCA and other local authorities that may be close to your area. You can also use local radio stations' lost and found bulletins.
What should I do if I find a dog?
Firstly, it’s important that you secure the dog. Then contact the Council’s Customer Services on 07 306 0500. A member of the Council’s Animal Control team will contact you and arrange to collect the dog. A 24-hour service is available to collect and secure dogs. After hours call 07 307 0729.
What happens if my dog is impounded?
Please contact the Council on telephone 07 306 0500 to collect your dog. You may be required to pay a fee (to cover things such as feeding costs). Dogs must be claimed within seven days.
What are the pound fees?
These vary. Please contact the Council’s Customer Services Section on 07 306 0500 for the amount payable and/or refer to the current Fees and Charges Schedule.
Where are Council’s dog pounds?
There are two dog pounds in the District (Te Tahi Street in Whakatane and Harakeke Road in Murupara). Contact Customer Services for business hours.
What can I do about barking dogs?
Please contact the Council’s Customer Services team on telephone 07 306 0500. You will need to supply details of the dog's location and frequency of barking, ie, dates, times and duration of barking.
Other animals
Am I allowed to keep poultry and pigs if I live in an urban area?
Yes, in some circumstances. Please contact an Animal Control Officer on telephone 07 306 0500 for the criteria.
Am I allowed to keep rabbits if I live in an urban area?
Yes. These must be confined to the owner's property at all times.
What do I do if I see cattle or horses wandering on a local road or state highway?
Please contact our Customer Services Centre on telephone 07 306 0500 or after hours 307 0729