Registration fees help keep our community safe from dog nuisance and aids the welfare of dogs. Dog registration fees help us to investigate dog nuisance complaints, maintain our dog database, and provide dog safety education for children and workgroups.

What your dog registration fee funds

Dog control activities

Dog control activities in Christchurch are funded totally from dog registration and other dog licence fees. Your registration fees pay for the service and they can be used for no other reason.

This includes the investigation, monitoring and resolution of dog nuisance complaints and assisting communities to be safe from dog-related risks, e.g. dangerous, aggressive, wandering and barking dogs.

Free dog microchipping for all registered dogs in the city

This microchip number is updated with other dog registration details to the National Dog Database (NDD).

It serves a number of purposes, such as to assist in the recovery of lost dogs, provide accurate information about a dog and it's owner, and provide a national record of all known dogs and their movements.

Dog registration database 

The dog registration database and information systems are a legal requirement of all Councils and record details of every known dog and owner within the city.

This database also enables the re-registration of dogs each year and production of reminder notices for owners. All dog and owner details held on the Council's dog register are uploaded to the National Dog Database (NDD).

Free education programmes

These programmes include:

  • DogSmart School Programme,  an educational programme used to advise school children on how to avoid and prevent dog attacks, and how to become good dog owners in the future.
  • Adult education courses based on bite prevention in the workplace.
  • Provision of information around dog care, welfare and responsibilities of dog owners
  • Reading to dogs programme(external link), an exciting venture that helps children improve their reading ability by reading to dogs in a non-judgmental situation.

Dog shelters

    Dog shelter facilities for the care, welfare and return of lost dogs.

    Dog parks

    In conjunction with the Council Parks department, development of new parks and the review of the existing dog parks and exercise areas, throughout the city.

    Patrols 

    Patrols and enforcement of dog law and bylaw in public places to assist with safety around prohibited beach and wildlife areas.