Microchipping your Dog
Does my dog need to be microchipped?
All dogs in New Zealand must be microchipped under the Dog Control Act 1996 Section 36A (excluding working dogs)
- Dogs registered for the first time after 1 July 2006 need to be microchipped within two months of first being registered.
- Any dog impounded on a second occasion must be microchipped before its release.
- Any unregistered dog that has been impounded must be microchipped before its release.
- Dogs classified as dangerous or menacing must be microchipped. This includes:
- those dogs that had been classified after 1 December 2003 but before 1 July 2006 - these dogs should have had a microchip implanted before 1 September 2006
- those dogs classified from 1 July 2006 onwards - these dogs must be microchipped within two months of being classified.
Regardless of any regulatory requirement to have your dog microchipped, microchipping also makes it easier to identify lost and found dogs and reunite them with their owners.
Read about why your dog needs to be microchipped and registered.
How do I get my dog microchipped?
There are three ways you can microchip your dog:
1. Visit one of our area offices and pay the required microchipping fee of $35.00 per dog.
Two blank copies of the microchip certificate will be provided. Present these at the time of chipping at your local animal shelter:
Te Puke: Monday - Friday: 3pm - 4.30pm
Katikati: Monday - Friday: 4pm - 5pm
2. At your local vet clinic. Forward a copy of your microchip certificate to info@westernbay.govt.nz or drop it in to your area office so it can be recorded on the National Dog Database. Please note there are two different databases:
National Dog Database- compulsory - through Council
NZ Companion Animal Register - voluntary - through vet
How do I check if my dog is microchipped?
1. Have your dog scanned at the vet
2. Contact Council and we will scan the dog for you
