New Zealand, and Mackenzie District Council have laws and guidelines to help you look after your dog in a way that's good for you, your dog , and the community.
Register your dog
All dogs in New Zealand legally need to be registered by 3 months of age.
Microchipping your dog
All dogs born after 1 July 2006, except for working dogs, must be microchipped within two months of being registered.
Caring for your dog
Provide shelter that is warm, free from draughts and excessive heat or cold, water, food and exercise.
You are legally obligated under the 1996 Dog Control Act to ensure your dog is supplied with proper and sufficient food, water and shelter as well as exercise.
Desexing your dog
Desexing your dog can prevent accidental litters of puppies, health problems and calm behavioural issues such as pee-marking and inter-dog aggression. Desexing your dog will reduce its registration fee.
Vaccinating your dog
Dog owners should vaccinate their dogs annually to protect their animals and prevent the spread of canine diseases such as Parvovirus.
Controlling your dog
You are legally responsible for keeping your dog under control at all times. Failure to do so is an offence with a fine of up to $3,000 or an infringement fee.
Menacing and dangerous dogs are classified by Council and dog owners are notified of the criteria and obligations they need to meet to keep the dog.
You have to take all reasonable steps to ensure your dog does not:
- cause a nuisance to any other person
- injure, endanger, intimidate or otherwise cause distress to any person
- injure, endanger, or cause distress to any stock, poultry, domestic animal or protected wildlife
- damage or endanger any property belonging to any other person.
Dogs in public spaces should be under supervision by an owner to ensure no nuisance or harm comes to the general public. This includes tethering outside of shops and other public spaces.
You can teach your dog at a young age some appropriate behaviours to use towards people and other dogs.
Exercising your dog
If you are in a public place, your dog needs to be on a lead. When you're in a designated dog exercise area, your dog can be off leash but must remain under control and be carefully supervised. You must carry a leash and poo bags at all times.
In designated dog exercise areas your dog does not need to be on a lead, though you need to have one with you. Even when you're exercising off-leash, you must keep your dog under control at all times. If your dog's recall is not reliable keep your dog on a leash or use a long-line.
In public places your dog needs to be on a lead. This includes all walking and multi-use tracks.
If you're taking your dog out in public it’s your responsibility to clean up after it. Used litter bags can be placed in public rubbish bins on the street.
Cleaning Up after your dog
Carry a waste bag for picking up your dog's faeces and dispose of it in a rubbish bin. You can buy biodegradable dog waste bags from local supermarkets.
Legal responsibilities of dog owners
Control of dogs
Sections 52, 53 and 65, Dog Control Act 1996
The owner of a dog must keep the dog under control at all times and, when in a public place, must use or carry a leash at all times.
A dog will be treated as not being under control:
- if it is found at large on any land or premises other than a public place or a private way without the consent (express or implied) of the occupier or person in charge of the land or the premises; or
- if it is found at large in any public place or in any private way in contravention of any regulations or bylaw.
You will commit an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or an infringement fee of $300 if you fail to comply with this provision.
No person shall cause, permit, suffer or allow any dog of which that person is the owner to enter or remain in any public place unless the dog is kept under continual and sufficient control; which means that the dog is kept leashed at all times by a person over the age of nine years.
The owner of every dog shall at all times keep and prevent the dog(s) from wandering or being at large, in or upon any public place, without being under effective control
Obligations of dog owner generally
Section 54, Dog Control Act 1996
The owner of a dog must
- ensure that the dog receives proper care and attention and is supplied with proper and sufficient food, water, and shelter; and
- ensure that the dog receives adequate exercise.
You will commit an offence and be liable on conviction to imprisonment for up to 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $5,000 if you fail to comply with this provision.
Obligations of dog owner on owner's property
Sections 52A and 65, Dog Control Act 1996 (from 1 June 2004)
The owner of a dog must ensure, when the dog is on land or premises occupied by the owner,
- that the dog is under the direct control of a person; or
- that the dog is confined within the land or premises in such a way that it cannot freely leave the land or premises.
You will commit an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of $3,000 or an infringement fee of $300 if you fail to comply with this provision. In addition, a dog control officer or dog ranger may seize and impound the dog.
Please note: the above requirements relate to the Dog Control Act 1996. The Mackenzie District Council Dog Control Policy and Bylaw identifies various specific areas in our district which are set aside as Dog Exercise Areas or Leash Control Areas or Dog Prohibited Areas. Please refer to the bylaw so you are aware of those requirements.