The Christchurch City Council decided late last month to give wayward dog owners a final chance to avoid penalties and a possible $200 court fine by granting a month’s amnesty.

The Council’s Animal Control Unit has a computerised list of about 32,500 dogs in the city. Of these, about 30,000 are registered.

Councillor Sue Wells, chairperson of the Regulatory and Consents Committee, says owners of unregistered dogs should understand that Council staff know where they are, and says they will be collared.

“We’ve invested in some excellent new technology and staff are going door to door around the city, serving notices on owners of unregistered dogs,” Cr Wells says.

“If you don’t register your dog by the end of March, you’ll get caught. It’s as simple as that. And then you’ll face the cost of registration plus a $200 penalty.”

The City Council’s dog registration year runs from July to June. Normally, dog owners who pay by 30 June would pay between $37 and $70 to register a dog for a year, depending on the category and number of dogs.

Information about dog ownership in the city is available on the City Council website, at

The Council’s Environmental Services Unit is the telephone contact for calls about dogs. Its customer centre number is 941 6643.