Section 37 of the Dog Control Act 1996, makes provision for the Council to set dog control and associated fees, and section 14 of the Impounding Act 1955 makes similar provision for the control of stock.

The Animal Management Team administers and enforces the provisions of the Dog Control Act 1996, the Christchurch City Council’s Dog Control Policy and Bylaws and the Impounding Act 1955, within the Christchurch City Council district.

Animal Management fees

Animal management services have two separate functions:

  • Dog control – is funded through the collection of annual dog registration fees, and is not currently funded through rates contribution. These fees pay for dog control services including dog nuisance complaints and investigation, school education programmes, dog owners information updates and integrity of the dog register and the care and welfare of stray impounded dogs.
  • Stock control – is funded through rates contribution where officers investigate complaints regarding stray or wandering stock on the roads, contain and as required remove stock in order to prevent traffic hazards for the safety of other road users.

Responsible dog owner status offers an annual reduced dog registration fee, where owners of dogs have successfully completed the application, agreed to the required conditions, have had their records checked and have then been granted the status. Apply for responsible dog owner status.

The Dog Control Act 1996(external link) sets infringement fees for various offences within the Act.  Animal Management Officers can issue infringement offence notices for specific breaches of the Act. Officers may decide to issue a warning notice to an owner instead if the circumstances allow it. 

View the fee schedule for dog registration, impounding, seizure and infringement offence fees.

Dog registration information

If your dog is already set up in our system you can register your dog online.

Neutered dogs

The neutered dog fee relates to dogs that have been either spayed or neutered, but does not apply to dogs that have been registered as having responsible dog owner status, working/rural dogs, dangerous dogs, or disability assist dogs.

For spayed/neutered dogs, evidence in the form of a veterinary certificate, or a declaration from the owner may be required. This neutering status will be held on record for subsequent registration years.

Menacing dogs

No separate dog registration fee exists for dogs that are classified as menacing.

Responsible dog owners

Owners granted responsible dog owner status are required to register all dogs in their possession or care by 30 June each year in order to obtain the registration fee rebate (discount) offered by the Council.

Where the responsible dog owner status is held by an owner, failure to register by 30 June each year may cause the status to be lost.  When the status is lost, an owner is ineligible to obtain the status again for two years. 

Responsible dog owner status may be lost for a number of other breaches of the status conditions.

Responsible dog owner fee concessions do not generally apply after 30 June each year.

Working/rural dogs

A working dog (defined under S2 of the Dog Control Act 1996) will generally be a dog kept solely or predominantly for the herding of stock, or a dog kept by a government agency, such as the Police, for carrying out the functions of that organisation.

Some other dogs may qualify under certain circumstances. If you feel your dog may qualify as a working dog, contact the Animal Management team for verification.

A rural working dog is a dog housed on a working farm and kept solely or principally to contribute to the working of the farm or otherwise assist in farming activities, but which does not qualify as a working dog as per the description above.

Disability assist dogs

Disability assist dogs are dogs trained for a person with a disability by one of the following organisations:

  • Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand
  • Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust
  • New Zealand Epilepsy Assist Dogs Trust
  • Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind
  • Top Dog Companion Trust

There is no fee for registering disability assist dogs.