A free dog microchipping programme is proving Wairoa District Council is barking up the right tree.

Council has been offering the free microchipping service for all dog owners with some excellent results.

Wairoa District Council compliance team leader Paul van Dorresteinsaid when they began the free microchipping programme, there were 325 known unchipped dogs in the district, and there are now about 30.

By the end of this month, he expects all known dog owners with un-chipped dogs will have been contacted.

“Instead of issuing infringements we have been offering dog owners the chance to have their dogs chipped for free, the usual cost is $40, and the results are extremely pleasing.

“A lot of people seem to be unaware that it is a legal requirement to chip their dogs making the programme a very worthwhile exercise.”

In many cases, farmers with working dogs have had their dogs chipped, and while that is not a legal requirement, it is a piece of mind for the dog owner and should a dog go missing if it is relocated it can be scanned and returned to the owner.

“It is great to be able to work in a positive and educational way with dog owners.”

Mr van Dorrestein said pig dog owners are also stepping up to have their pig dogs’ chipped.

“Pig dogs are not included under the working dog classification so legally they need to be chipped.”

Letters are being sent to dog owners who Council has identified as having unchipped dogs encouraging them to make contact with Council to arrange their dog(s) to be chipped. 

Council’s Animal Control Compliance team has also run microchipping amnesties throughout the district with the most recent amnesty in June 2017 with 124 dogs being chipped.

Wairoa District Council chief executive Steven May is pleased with the response from the community in bringing their animals in for chipping and also for the proactive approach taken by Council’s compliance team.

16 April 2019

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