Has your dog got their shiny new yellow registration tag yet?

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is encouraging dog owners to get their new yellow dog tags sorted before June 30 when the existing green tags expire.

So far 43 per cent of dog owners have registered their dog in time for the new year, and automatically go in the draw to win free dog registration in 2024-25.

Animal Services Team Leader Peter Hrstich says 43 per cent is a great start but encourages everyone to get their dog registered – for their own peace of mind.

Donna, a new resident of Western Bay was really happy she'd registered and microchipped her female Lab x Smithfield Cattle Dog called Teva, after Teva chewed through her lead and escaped their new property, wandering away in a new, unfamiliar rural area.

'I was driving up and down the road looking for Teva wandering where she'd gone. She's a beautiful, confident dog and there's so many horrendous things that could've happened.”

Meanwhile another resident had spotted Teva, secured her and called Western Bay Animal Services team to let them know.

The call came in at 2.15pm, and the Animal Services team drove over, picked up Teva, and found her microchip number and via her registration information found Donna's contact info.

"Even though Donna had only just moved to the Western Bay and Teva was wearing Donna's other dog's collar - after Teva had cheekily chewed her own the week before - still to be transitioned over from Tauranga City Council, our team were able to see her registration information and get in touch with Donna while she was out driving the rural roads looking for her," says a Western Bay Animal Services spokesperson.

By 4pm the same afternoon Teva was delivered back to Donna.

'I was absolutely stoked. As soon as I got the phone call and they said ‘Animal Services' I knew and yeah, I was pretty happy," says Donna.

And it's only because Donna had ensured that Teva was registered and microchipped in the first place that led to Teva being back in her arms in less than two hours from the first report to Council.

Donna was asked by council if she recommends all dog owners get their dog registration sorted.

'Yes. Absolutely. If your dog gets lost and you want to see them again, you need to register them.”

Peter says registration is more than a fee you pay to Council, it's peace of mind knowing you've done everything possible to look after your best mate's interests.

'Our team are here to help but without registration and microchip information there's not always much we can do. Registration is reassurance you're doing the best you can for you dog.”

In the last year Council's Animal Services Team have reunited 190 dogs with their owners.

Competition
All dogs owners in the Western Bay of Plenty who register their dog/s before June 30 go in the draw to win free registration in 2023-24. Each dog owner is limited to one entry, and the prize is free registration for a maximum of two dogs at the same address.

Further terms and conditions are available at westernbay.govt.nz/dog-registration

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