Menu
Cemeteries
Community support and resources
Dogs and animal control
Facilities
Have your say
Licences and permits
News and events
Property, rates and building
Recreation
Waste and recycling
Westland District
Your council
Do it online
A - Z Services
Contact us
Hokitika, New Zealand

Dogs and animal control

Microchipping your dog

A microchip does not replace dog registration. Microchipping assists Councils, vets and welfare groups to return your dog to you if it gets lost, stolen or strays.

The microchip number is stored in a database and you are responsible for keeping your address up-to-date. It is not the same as the National Dog Database of registered dogs. 

  • Dogs registered for the first time after 1 July 2006.
  • Dogs classified as dangerous on or after 1 December 2003.
  • Dogs classified as menacing on or after 1 December 2003.

Working dogs, as defined by s 2 of the Dog Control Act 1996, do not have to be microchipped.

Your dog will be microchipped by the Council if:

  • If an unregistered dog is impounded, it must be microchipped before it will be released.
  • If a registered dog is impounded for a second time it must be microchipped before it will be released.

Any dog can be microchipped. Dogs adopted from the SPCA and other similar organisations are generally microchipped. Most NZ Kennel Club breeders will also microchip puppies before selling them. Your vet can microchip your dog. You can also make an appointment for Council’s dog control officer to microchip your dog.

You may also be interested in

Dog registration

All dogs living in the Westland District must be registered with the Westland District Council. The registration period runs from 1 July to 30 June.

Responsible dog ownership

Council’s objective is to keep dogs as a positive part of people’s lives in Westland. Find out what dog owners should do under the Dog Control Policy and Dog Control Bylaw.