The Thames-Coromandel District Council's says its Compliance Team will be targeting all owners of unregistered dogs come September 1.

Any owners who have not registered their dogs by the end of August could face a possible $300 fine and risk having their dogs being seized under Section 42 of the Dog Control Act 1996.

Dog owners are being encouraged to register their pet as soon as possible to avoid additional penalty fees being added to the registration fee.

Compliance Team Leader Steve Hart says council gives a one month grace during August before a penalty fee is added to the cost of registration.

'Whereas the Dog Control Act applies the penalty from August 1," adds Steve. 'We take a hard line on unregistered dogs in our district so that the fees are recovered sooner to offset dog control costs and dogs are wearing current tags.

'That cost is recovered through the penalty fee, infringements and impounding fees, so dog owners should ensure they make every effort to register dogs before September 1 to avoid penalties and the unnecessary dramas associated with dog seizures or infringements.”

Council has a zero tolerance for unregistered dogs as the fees collected are used to pay part of the cost to manage dogs in our district including the operation of dog pounds.

Last year the Thames-Coromandel council had 557 unregistered dogs as of September 1, and this number was reduced to four by November.

Council currently has the highest number of dogs on its records at 4,608 dogs, with an additional 54 dogs located during the surveying of properties by compliance officers this year to locate dogs not on its database.

For more information visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's website at: http://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Our-Services/Animals-and-Insects/Dogs/