Those slow to pay their dog registration fees urged to act now

Animal control officers are starting to make visits to those dog owners’ listed on the register that have not paid a dog licence for the latest year in Southland District.

Acting Chief Executive Lindsay McKenzie said that dog registrations for the currentyear were due to be paid by August 1, 2007.

Over 90% of registered dog owners have paid their fees, but reminder notices have been sent out to 830 owners regarding 1,413 dogs recorded as unregistered.

“I just don’t understand when the dog registration fee in Southland is so low compared to other parts of the country, that people are prepared to risk a $300 fine”, he said.

“From recent experience we have a number of itinerant people often working on farms, who do not think that we will follow up and make a visit, but they are sadlymistaken”.

Owners who have failed to register their dogs also face the risk of having their dogs impounded and expense and inconvenience that this entails, plus the cost of microchipping.