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Alert

Toxic algae blooms in Ruamāhanga River

Red alert warnings are in place for the Ruamāhanga River from Double Bridges to Kokotau, due to moderate amounts of toxic algae mats on the river’s edge. People are advised not to swim or let dogs near the water, including at Te Ore Ore and The Cliffs. Even a small amount of algae can kill a dog.

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Register your Dog

Rēhitatia tō Kurī

All dogs must be registered by 1 July of each year or before the dog is three months old. The registration year is the same across all Councils and runs from 1 July to 30 June every year. This is a legal requirement under Section 36 of the Dog Control Act 1996.

All dogs (except working farm dogs) registered for the first time must be microchipped within 2 months of registration. Registering and microchipping your dog makes it easier for us to return them to you.

If your circumstances have changed since you last registered your dog(s), please complete the online form to update your dog account. This may be a change of address, a new dog, a deceased dog, a change of owner or transfer in or out of the district.

Register a new dog online
Pay your dog fee online

Paying Your Dog Registration

Dog registration is an annual fee and each year you get a new tag. It’s important to make sure your dog wears the tag.

Ways you can pay your dog registration:

  • Pay online with a debit or credit card
  • In person at our customer service centre, 161 Queen Street, Masterton
  • Online banking to the account 03-0687-0271682-000.

The information you need to enter which will appear on our bank statement is:

Particulars

Code

Reference

Dog Registration

Your Owner Number

Your Surname

You can spread the cost of registration by paying smaller weekly amounts. Talk to us about how to set up installments to pay your registration each year.

You can also apply to become a responsible dog owner which gives you an annual discount. Call the Animal Services team any time on 370 6300 to talk about your options.

Dog Registration Timeline

  • 3 Months Old: All dogs must be registered at 3 months old.
  • 31 March: Responsible Dog Owner applications close.
  • Early June: First registration invoices are sent.
  • 30 June: Registration due.
  • 31 July: Registration must be paid in full to avoid additional 50% penalty.
  • 1 August: 50% penalty added to registrations not paid in full.
  • 1 October: $300 infringement notices issued for Failing to Register (registration must still also be paid)
  • December: Unpaid infringements referred to court.

Fees and Charges for 2024-25

Class

Cost – in full

Description

Urban Entire

$188.00

Urban entire

Urban Neutered

$109.00

Urban neutered dog

Rural dog

$109.00

First rural dog

2nd and sub rural

$29.00

Second and subsequent rural dogs

Dangerous dog*

$163.50

*Classified as dangerous

Permit application

$65.00

Permit to keep more than 2 dogs in urban Masterton

Responsible Dog Owner (RDO) Application Fee

$25.00

RDO Registration Fee

$82.00

Urban neutered dog

Microchip

$22.00

Microchip for a Masterton registered dog

Surrender for Euthanasia

Actual cost plus 15%

Download the full list of dog registration and impounding fees for 2024-25.

* A dog may be declared menacing or dangerous if we believe it’s a threat to any person, animal or protected wildlife. Dangerous dogs must be muzzled in public, neutered and kept securely fenced on the owner’s property without blocking access to any dwelling.

Registration fees are used to fund dog-related services, such as dealing with dog attacks, barking, straying and other complaints.

Registration fees provide funds for:

  • Responding to reports of uncontrolled dogs
  • Receiving and caring for abandoned and impounded dogs
  • Monitoring and enforcing the dog control bylaws and policy
  • Implementing the Dog Control Act 1996
  • Promoting better care and control of animals
  • Taking action against owners of unregistered and uncontrolled dogs
  • Providing information and education to local schools and communities

To find out more about what our Animal Services team has been working on you can check our Section 10A reports at the bottom of this page, these provides details of how many callouts we get and lots of other information about our activity.

You will be issued with a $300 infringement fee upon being found with an unregistered dog. The information will be lodged in court, and you could be fined up to $3000. If your dog remains unregistered, you may be issued with more $300 fines, or your dog could be uplifted and impounded. If it remains unregistered, it will be disposed of by Council staff and the costs charged to you.

We need your date of birth so we can distinguish your records from other people with the same name. Certainty of identification is required in the enforcement of the provisions of the Dog Control Act 1996.

Council must classify a dog as menacing if there are reasonable grounds to believe it belongs predominantly to one of the 5 restricted breeds:

  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Brazilian Fila
  • Perro de Presa Canairo
  • Japanese Tosa

It’s illegal to import any of these restricted breeds or types. Menacing dogs must be muzzled when in public and councils may require them to be neutered.

Yes, a replacement tag costs $5.00 and these are available at our Council Office, 161 Queen Street.

If you got your dog midway through the registration year (1 July – 30 June) you can pay for the months remaining.

Yes. If your dog has died, please notify the council by filling out a Deceased Dog Declaration. You’re entitled to a refund of the current year’s registration. We calculate the refund from the date you notify us that your dog has died until the end of the registration period.

Section 10A Reports

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