Local dog owners are being urged to take advantage of the free dog microchip amnesty being rolled out by the Wairoa District Council throughout the month of September.

Your dog can be microchipped for free during September. All you need to do is call into the Wairoa District Council Queen Street building and your dog will be microchipped at no cost.

A microchip safely links a dog with its owner and means if your dog is lost or stolen it can be returned to you.

Under Section 36A of the Dog Control Act 1996, all dogs must be registered and microchipped. Dogs which are classified as working dogs are exempt from being microchipped, but if the owner wants them to receive a microchip, that is fine too.

Usually, the cost of microchipping a dog is $60, so the amnesty offers a significant saving.

Wairoa District Council Chief Executive Kitea Tipuna hopes more people will take advantage of the free offer. “We have had some take up, but we know there are more people out there who have dogs registered on the Council system and they are required to get them microchipped. This month is the ideal time as it costs the dog owner nothing.

To take advantage of the free microchipping, take your dog to the Council offices on Queen Street anytime throughout the month of September, from Monday to Friday between 8am to 4.30pm.

Please note, owners of dogs that are impounded over September, and do not have a microchip, will still need to pay the fees for the dog to be microchipped.

For any queries, please phone the compliance team on 06 838 7309 or email compliance@wairoadc.govt.nz

20 September 2022

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